Of the 81 officials serving on district executive committees, 27 will not return to their current positions after completing the two terms permitted by law.
The group includes eight district mayors, 12 vice mayors in charge of economic development and seven vice mayors in charge of social affairs.
Among the district mayors completing their two terms are Mutabazi Richard of Bugesera, Mbonyumuvunyi Radjab of Rwamagana and Gasana Richard of Gatsibo in the Eastern Province.
In the Southern Province, the outgoing mayors are Rutaburingoga Jerome of Gisagara, Sebutege Ange of Huye, Habarurema Valens of Ruhango and Kayitare Jacqueline of Muhanga.
The Western Province has one mayor completing two terms, Mukandayisenga Antoinette of Nyabihu. In the Northern Province, none of the district mayors has yet completed two terms, with all of them having served their first term.
The Eastern Province has two districts, Kayonza and Nyagatare, currently led on an interim basis. Among vice mayors in charge of economic development, two have completed their two terms, from Ngoma and Bugesera, while those in Kirehe, Rwamagana, Nyagatare and Gatsibo have completed one term.
Three vice mayors in charge of social affairs in the province, from Rwamagana, Nyagatare and Bugesera, have completed two terms, while those in Ngoma, Kirehe and Gatsibo have completed one.
In the Southern Province, the district mayors from Gisagara, Huye, Ruhango and Muhanga have completed two terms, while those from Nyamagabe, Nyaruguru and Kamonyi have completed one. Nyanza District is currently headed by an interim vice mayor.
Seven vice mayors in charge of economic development in the Southern Province have completed two terms, from Gisagara, Nyaruguru, Ruhango, Huye, Kamonyi, Muhanga and Nyanza, while Nyamagabe has one who has completed a single term. Among vice mayors in charge of social affairs, only Huye’s has completed two terms.
In the Western Province, vice mayors in charge of economic development from Nyabihu, Rubavu and Ngororero have completed two terms. Those in charge of social affairs from Nyabihu, Ngororero and Rubavu have also completed two terms.
In the Northern Province, only Gakenke’s vice mayor in charge of economic development has completed two terms, while all vice mayors in charge of social affairs across the province have completed one term.
What will the outgoing mayors be remembered for?
The eight district mayors completing their two terms are among the local government officials likely to leave a significant mark, particularly because many survived periodic leadership changes in which officials deemed to have underperformed were replaced.
Some have been in charge of their districts since 2016, while others took office later, giving them several years to oversee development projects and local government programmes.
Mbonyumuvunyi Radjab, who has led Rwamagana since 2016, will leave office with a record that includes significant improvements in several development indicators.
The Seventh Integrated Household Living Conditions Survey, EICV7, conducted in 2024, showed that the district’s poverty rate had fallen to 23.8%, down 5.7 percentage points from 2017.
He will also be remembered for leading Rwamagana to the top position in the Imihigo performance contracts rankings twice in a row, in 2016/17 and 2017/18. Under his leadership, the district developed an 80.2-hectare industrial park that now hosts 29 operational factories.
Access to clean water reached 93%, while more than 88% of residents had access to electricity. The district also expanded its tarmac road network, with about 30 kilometres in the town, alongside more than 300 hectares of irrigated land.
In neighbouring Gatsibo, Gasana Richard, who has led the district since 2015, will leave office after a tenure marked by investments in water, electricity, health and transport infrastructure. EICV7 put the district’s poverty rate at 18.4% in 2024.
Among the projects associated with his tenure are the Gihengeri water network, the Muhazi water treatment plant and Minago market, developments that helped push clean water access above 80%. Electricity access also surpassed 80%.
The district also rehabilitated Ngarama and Kiziguro hospitals and constructed tarmac roads in Kabarore, Ngarama and Kiziguro, as well as the 35-kilometre Kiramuruzi-Gasange-Muhura road. Bus terminals were also built in Kabarore and Kiramuruzi.
Gatsibo has additionally seen an increase in privately owned hotels, which were previously scarce, while its internationally marketed coffee has become one of the district’s distinctive products.
In Bugesera, Mutabazi Richard, who was elected mayor in 2018, leaves behind one of the more notable improvements in poverty indicators among the outgoing mayors. EICV7 shows that poverty in the district fell from 40.8% in 2017 to 23.7% in 2024, a decline of 17.1 percentage points.
Mutabazi is likely to be remembered for helping revive Bugesera FC and promoting cycling, while the district also benefited from new and upgraded roads connecting Ngoma and Bugesera with Nyanza.
Other projects include the Kanzenze water treatment plant, tarmac roads in Nyamata town, the Smart Bugesera initiative and a modern market in Nyamata.
Further south, Gisagara’s Rutaburingoga Jerome will leave office with the district having recorded a 13.9 percentage-point decline in poverty, from 59.5% in 2017 to 45.6% in 2024, according to EICV7.
During his tenure, Gisagara got its first tarmac road in 2019, connecting Huye to the district headquarters. A gymnasium was completed alongside a football stadium, while the development of wetlands helped residents increase agricultural production. The completion of the peat factory also created employment opportunities for local residents.
In Huye, Sebutege Ange will be remembered in part for efforts to revitalise the district’s urban centre. EICV7 shows that poverty fell from 39.4% in 2017 to 24.2% in 2024, a reduction of 15.3 percentage points.
During his tenure, the area commonly known as the Arab Quarter, which had previously been closed, was reopened and renovated, with several commercial buildings subsequently constructed.
A gymnasium was completed in Mbazi, while several tarmac roads were built across the district. The Rango market was also developed as part of efforts to improve commercial infrastructure.
Ruhango’s Habarurema Valens also leaves office after a significant reduction in poverty. The district’s poverty rate fell from 26.2% in 2017 to 15% in 2024, representing an 11.2 percentage-point decline.
His tenure saw the construction of several tarmac roads, including one running through the area around Yezu Nyirimpuhwe shrine and connecting parts of Ruhango town.
The district also worked to increase production at the Kinazi factory and launched initiatives to promote local tourism and cultural attractions through events such as “Turi mu Ruhango” and “Ruhango Icyeye”.
In Muhanga, Kayitare Jacqueline will be leaving after a period in which poverty fell from 27.4% in 2017 to 15% in 2024, according to EICV7.
Her tenure coincided with the expansion of Muhanga’s commercial and industrial base. The district’s industrial park grew to accommodate several factories, including sugar and cement producers. Several tarmac roads were also constructed around the town, including the road linking Muhanga and Karongi.
Mukandayisenga Antoinette, the only district mayor in the Western Province completing two terms, will also leave office with a number of projects associated with her tenure.
EICV7 shows that Nyabihu’s poverty rate fell by 19.4 percentage points, from 39.6% in 2017 to 20.2% in 2024.
Among the developments are 93 kilometres of tarmac roads in Gishwati, the establishment of Rwanda Coding Academy, the Mukamira milk collection centre and more than 8,000 hectares of progressive terraces aimed at improving agricultural productivity and soil conservation.
All sectors in Nyabihu have also been equipped with health centres, while electricity infrastructure projects have expanded access to power.
Currently, 92% of residents have access to electricity and 87% have access to clean water.
The outgoing mayors’ records, however, are not limited to poverty figures and infrastructure. Their terms have coincided with changes in the way districts deliver services, promote investment, develop urban centres and support local economic activity.
For those who have completed only one five-year term, the story is not yet over. Some may receive another mandate from voters, while others could be replaced, as has happened in previous local government elections.
The next elections will therefore determine not only who takes charge of Rwanda’s 27 districts, but also which of the current leaders will be given the opportunity to continue the work they have started and which will leave public office with their record becoming their lasting legacy.
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