Rwanda’s new Prime Minister, Justin Nsengiyumva, vowed to prioritize national interests above all else as he officially assumed office on Friday, July 25, during a handover ceremony with his predecessor, Edouard Ngirente, at the Prime Minister’s Office. Nsengiyumva, who was sworn in on Friday, expressed gratitude to President Paul Kagame for entrusting him with the role, describing it as a significant responsibility and privilege. ALSO READ: Kagame appoints Justin Nsengiyumva as new Prime Minister “Out of nearly 14 million Rwandans, for the President to think of me for this position is a blessing I cannot fully explain. I am committed and dedicated to ensuring that he never regrets this decision,” he said. He paid tribute to his predecessor, acknowledging the impact of his eight-year tenure. “Ngirente, filling your shoes will be difficult. What you accomplished over the past eight years was remarkable. It will require hard work and determination to build on that legacy,” Nsengiyumva said. The Prime Minister described his guiding principle as “Think Rwanda first, then the rest will follow.” ALSO READ: Kagame, new PM Nsengiyumva discuss national priorities Central banker-turned-Prime Minister Nsengiyumva, an economist who was the Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Rwanda until his new appointment on Wednesday, called for a more efficient, accountable, and patriotic approach to executing government programmes. “We must think differently, be more productive, and ensure that our policies truly serve the needs of Rwandans. If certain rules or directives do not facilitate development, we must be pragmatic enough to review or change them. We need to focus on impact, progress, and long-term improvements in the lives of our citizens,” he emphasized. He added that government institutions and ministries would be tasked with making regulations that support citizen welfare and economic development, saying he was “counting on everyone’s support.” Ngirente on eight years of service In his farewell speech, outgoing Prime Minister Ngirente thanked President Kagame for trusting him with the role and commended his team for their support throughout his tenure since 2017. “This is a responsibility you cannot shoulder alone; it requires a strong team. Over the past eight years, we achieved a lot together. Coordination is at the heart of our job, and teamwork made it possible,” said Ngirente, an economist whose time in office was guided by the seven-year National Strategy for Transformation (NST1). He also saw the beginning of its five-year sequel NST2 last year. ALSO READ: Unpacking Rwanda’s five-year development strategy: Here are the 14 goals Ngirente emphasized that the office of the Prime Minister is an institution, not an individual, and urged all leaders to remain focused on delivering measurable results. “We are all tasked with serving the country, whether young or old. Let us work hard, deliver with quality, and ensure our efforts are quantifiable. When something lacks numbers, it is hard to measure progress. I will continue contributing to this vision,” he added. Ngirente formally handed over the ongoing mandate of the NST2 to Nsengiyumva, urging him to continue supporting the President Kagame's development agenda. A pledge of support from the cabinet Elias Turatsinze, Director of Cabinet in the Prime Minister’s Office, paid tribute to Ngirente for being more than just a leader. “You have been a teacher, a mentor, and a parent to us. What we learned from you will continue to guide our contribution to the country’s development,” Turatsinze said. He also welcomed Prime Minister Nsengiyumva, pledging the Cabinet staff’s full support in fulfilling his responsibilities. “We are ready to work with you to deliver results that improve the well-being of Rwandans and drive the country forward,” he said.
