Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) chief executive Doris Picard Uwicyeza has raised concerns over a decline in citizen participation in community activities, warning that reduced engagement could slow the country’s development momentum. Speaking during a panel discussion on the second day of the National Dialogue Council (Umushyikirano), Uwicyeza said participation in key civic platforms, including Umuganda and citizens’ councils, has dropped since the Covid-19 pandemic, despite their long-standing role in strengthening governance and community ownership. ALSO READ: Umushyikirano: Rwandans weigh in on progress, what needs to change She stressed that Rwanda’s progress over the past decades has been driven not only by government action but by active citizen involvement in national programmes and local initiatives. “Our development has been possible because citizens owned government programmes and played a direct role in implementing them,” she said. Uwicyeza warned that declining participation risks weakening that partnership, which she described as central to Rwanda’s governance model and long-term development ambitions under Vision 2050. ALSO READ: Umushyikirano: PM Nsengiyumva presents performance under NST2 She particularly called on young people to step forward and take a more active role in civic life. “I urge the youth to participate more in government programmes and let your voice be heard. When you participate, you are no longer just a beneficiary, you become a partner,” she said. Uwicyeza emphasized that citizen engagement remains essential for improving service delivery, strengthening trust between citizens and institutions, and ensuring that governance continues to respond to people’s needs. Uwicyeza recalled a time when local authorities ruled through fear and coercion. She cited the former burgomaster era, when citizens summoned to meet commune offices would carry blankets, uncertain whether they would return home or be detained. “Governance has totally changed compared to those years,” she said, noting that Rwanda deliberately chose to build institutions that serve, respect, and protect citizens equally. ALSO READ: Day 1: Umushyikirano 2026 in pictures Uwicyeza explained that today’s governance is measured by how institutions function, how accessible services are, and whether citizens’ voices are heard. Through its annual governance and service delivery research, RGB boss said, the institution has found that trust between citizens and government has significantly improved over the past three decades, while also highlighting areas needing improvement, particularly service efficiency and responsiveness. “Citizens now ask not only whether services exist, but whether they are timely, user-friendly and adapted to technology,” she said, adding that expectations have evolved alongside increased access to education and digital tools. She stressed that Rwanda’s progress has been driven not only by government institutions but by strong collaboration with citizens. Uwicyeza pointed to the period between 2008 and 2011, when over one million people were lifted out of poverty, crediting public ownership of government programmes such as community development and social protection initiatives.
