According to the ministry, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, will be observed as Independence Day, while Friday, July 4, 2025, will mark Liberation Day. In addition to the national holidays, the government has granted public holidays on Wednesday, July 2, and Thursday, July 3, 2025, creating a long holiday break for citizens.
Independence Day commemorates Rwanda’s achievement of sovereignty from colonial rule on July 1, 1962, marking the birth of the nation as an independent state. Liberation Day, on the other hand, celebrates the end of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and the country’s subsequent liberation by the Rwandan Patriotic Army, symbolising national unity, recovery, and hope for a peaceful future.
Official government work will resume on Monday, July 7, 2025, following the extended break. The Ministry also emphasised that essential services will remain operational during this period.
“Essential services will remain open to ensure continuity of operations,” the statement issued on Friday, June 20, reads in part.
As the nation prepares to celebrate these important national holidays, the Ministry of Public Service and Labour urged all Rwandans to observe the holidays “responsibly and safely”.
The extended break provides an opportunity for families and communities to come together and reflect on Rwanda’s progress and achievements as the country marks its independence and liberation.
The agreement establishes a framework for collaboration between the state-owned airport management firm and the global leader in energy management and automation.
Schneider Electric, with a presence in over 100 countries, will provide technical support, consultancy, and maintenance services focused on energy management, electrical infrastructure, and automation systems across RAC-managed airports.
Charles Habonimana, Managing Director of RAC, said the partnership aligns with the company’s vision to modernise Rwanda’s aviation infrastructure.
“Schneider Electric’s global expertise aligns with our vision to modernise and maintain high-quality aviation infrastructure and to deliver world-class solutions crafted to the unique needs of Rwanda’s airports,” he stated.
“This MOU intends to establish a strategic partnership between Rwanda Airports Company (RAC) and Schneider Electric to enhance passenger experience, enhance operational efficiency and resilience, ensure compliance and safety, strengthen cyber security, and promote the sustainability of airport operations in Rwanda.”
The collaboration is expected to accelerate digital transformation within Rwanda’s airports, supporting RAC’s broader ambition to build sustainable and future-ready aviation facilities.
“This partnership aims to accelerate digital transformation, decarbonisation, and resilience-building across RAC-managed airports while ensuring compliance with global aviation standards,” Habonimana added.
The MOU also provides a structure for the development of both short- and long-term projects through mutual agreements.
Schneider Electric will deploy its EcoStruxure for Airports platform to optimise intelligent automation, digitalisation, and energy efficiency.
Ifeanyi Odoh, President of Schneider Electric (Kenya) Limited, affirmed the company’s commitment to supporting Rwanda’s aviation sector through advanced technological solutions.
“We are excited to leverage our EcoStruxure for Airports platform to improve intelligent automation, digitalisation, and energy efficiency at these critical facilities,” Odoh said, further expressing Schneider Electric’s readiness to collaborate with the RAC to establish a Unified Operations Centre (UOC) to centralise oversight and decision-making.
“Aligning with RAC’s Net Zero objectives, we are prepared to develop a comprehensive sustainability roadmap focusing on renewable energy integration, microgrids, and energy efficiency measures to support decarbonisation and sustainability goals,” he explained.
He emphasised the potential for AI-assisted condition-based maintenance practices to enhance asset lifespan and operational durability.
“Through AI-driven predictive maintenance and lifecycle management, we can significantly improve operations.”
To facilitate this, Odoh assured that Schneider Electric would provide consulting, training, and technical support to ensure the effective implementation and transfer of knowledge.
The new agreement marks a key step in RAC’s mission to transform Rwanda into a regional aviation hub, as the country continues to invest in infrastructure that meets international standards for safety, efficiency, and environmental responsibility, such as the Bugesera International Airport currently under construction.
Rayon Sports FC is undergoing a major rebuild as it eyes a strong campaign both in domestic competitions and on the continental stage in the CAF Confederation Cup.
As part of its technical restructuring, the club has been unveiling new signings to its coaching staff. Following the appointment of Afahmia Lotfi as head coach, Rayon has now brought in Bakame to take charge of the goalkeeping department.
The club’s Football Administrative Director, Irambona Eric, confirmed the deal via social media, announcing that talks with Bakame had been successfully concluded.
Bakame had been with Bugesera FC since 2023, initially joining as a player before hanging up his gloves and taking on the role of goalkeeping coach.
However, towards the end of last season, as Bugesera prepared to face Rayon on matchday 28 of the Rwanda Premier League, he was suspended in a tactical move by the club.
This marks a homecoming for the 36-year-old, who previously donned the Rayon jersey as a player until 2018 before making a move to Kenyan giants AFC Leopards.
Over the course of his playing career, Bakame featured for several top clubs including APR FC, Police FC, AS Kigali, Tusker FC (Kenya), and Atraco FC.
He now replaces Mazimpaka André as Rayon’s new goalkeeping coach, bringing both experience and familiarity back to the Blues’ dressing room.
Prime Minister Dr Edouard Ngirente announced the plan on June 19, 2025, during an address to a joint session of Parliament, where he outlined the Government’s progress in improving the welfare of Rwandans.
In the education sector, the Prime Minister noted that more than 22,000 new classrooms have been constructed in under a year, along with a significant increase in the number of teachers across all levels of schooling.
Dr Ngirente was responding to a question about what the government is doing to address the issue of teachers who lack sufficient proficiency in English, the language of instruction.
He explained that the issue is being tackled through teacher training programmes where Zimbabwean educators have been brought in to train future Rwandan teachers. He also revealed plans to recruit more.
“You may recall that we brought in teachers from Zimbabwe, and we are currently planning to bring in even more,” he said.
It is expected that around 150 teachers will be brought in during this phase, adding to the 154 already in the country.
“The majority of those we brought in are English teachers working in Teacher Training Colleges (TTCs), to ensure that future educators are well-versed in English. That’s why we’ve invested heavily in TTCs—providing them with the necessary facilities and resources. Even during school construction, TTCs were given priority so they could be adequately equipped. These Zimbabwean teachers will help ensure that graduates are capable of teaching in English, even at the primary school level,” he said.
However, he acknowledged that the current number of TTCs, which stands at only 16 nationwide, is insufficient to meet the country’s teacher training needs.
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Dr Ngirente also announced that current teachers will be required to undergo two years of English language training, after which they must take a proficiency test. Those who pass will retain their positions, while those who fail will be replaced.
“TTCs cannot produce enough graduates to fill all teaching positions across the country. Therefore, we will gradually replace existing teachers as more English-proficient graduates come out of TTCs.”
He added, “Current teachers will have two years to learn English while still teaching. After that, they’ll take an exam—those who pass will remain, and those who fail will leave the profession. The programme lasts three years, with two years focused on learning while they work. Failing to teach in English effectively means failing to qualify as a teacher.”
A 2018 World Bank report highlighted the urgent need for English language training among teachers, revealing that only 38% of teachers from Primary 1 to 3 had sufficient English proficiency.
A document released by the Ministry of Education on February 26, 2024, indicated that only 4% of current teachers possess intermediate to advanced English skills, even though English is the official language of instruction.
Rwanda adopted English as the medium of instruction in 2008, replacing French. In 2011, the policy stipulated that English would be introduced from Primary 4 onwards, with the first three years taught in Kinyarwanda. However, this was revised in 2019, and English is now used as the language of instruction starting from Primary 1.
Founded in 2018 with just 20 students, Winners Mount Academy has experienced steady growth thanks to the trust parents have in the school and its professional teaching standards. By 2020, enrolment had increased to between 50 and 100 students, and the school employed between 10 and 15 staff members.
Between 2020 and 2022, the number of students increased to between 300 and 400, while the staff grew to between 20 and 25. From 2022 to 2024, the staff expanded further to 30, and as of 2025, the school serves 700 students.
Muhizi Elie, the founder of Winners Mount Academy, revealed that over the next three years, the school aims to enrol 1,000 students and create jobs for more than 500 people, including teachers and support staff.
“We want to expand our school so that we can achieve our target of welcoming 1,000 students in the next three years, while also creating job opportunities for members of our community to improve their livelihoods. I believe this goal is achievable thanks to the strong leadership that supports us in every step,” he said.
Muhizi added that beyond educating students, the academy plans to build additional facilities to benefit both the school and the surrounding community. These include a health centre, a hair salon, and a shop where residents can conveniently access goods without leaving the school premises—all aimed at enhancing safety and promoting community development.
He further announced that on July 7, 2025, the school will hold its first-ever graduation ceremony for pupils completing the first cycle of primary education, consisting of 20 students.
“The graduating students are excited, and we are equally proud to witness our first group finishing primary school. This is a major milestone and a source of pride for us and the parents,” he said.
Winners Mount Academy admits children as young as three years old into nursery school, where they are initially taught in French. As they transition into primary school, lessons are conducted in English, in line with the national curriculum set by the Rwanda Education Board (REB).
Government projections show that Rwanda’s economy is expected to grow by 7.1% in 2025, 7.5% in 2026, 7.4% in 2027, and 7% in 2028.
Presenting a report on the Government’s achievements in improving citizens’ welfare before both chambers of Parliament on June 19, 2025, Dr. Ngirente emphasised that this sustained economic growth has been inclusive.
“Some wondered whether the economic growth we’ve seen was truly inclusive. We have found that it is. The growth has been shared—many people have benefited from it. The positive effects of economic development have reached Rwandans across all regions—urban and rural—and across all age groups, both young and old,” he said.
According to the Seventh Integrated Household Living Conditions Survey (EICV7) conducted over 12 months in 2024, Rwanda’s poverty rate dropped from 39.8% in 2017 to 27.4% in 2024. Extreme poverty fell from 11.3% in 2017 to 5.4% in 2024.
In 2000, the average annual income per Rwandan was $268, which rose to $1,029 by 2024.
EICV7 also shows that 1.5 million Rwandans moved out of poverty in the past seven years, a 12.4% decline in poverty levels.
The National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) estimates that a Rwandan needs at least 560,127 Rwandan francs per year to meet essential needs, including food and other basic necessities.
The Government attributes this poverty reduction to a range of social protection programs, such as Girinka (One Cow per Poor Family), Vision 2020 Umurenge Programme (VUP), direct support to vulnerable households, and health insurance coverage for the poor.
Currently, Rwanda has over 1.6 million cows, with more than 452,000 distributed through the Girinka program.
The ceremony marking the end of the training and the official enrolment of the new recruits was presided over by RDF Chief of Defence Staff, Gen MK Mubarakh, and attended by Service Chiefs, Generals, senior and junior officers, and enlisted personnel.
During the event, the graduates showcased a range of military skills acquired during the course, including arms handling and tactical manoeuvres, demonstrating their readiness to take on operational responsibilities in the RDF.
In his address, Gen Mubarakh congratulated the new soldiers for hard work and determination throughout the demanding training period. He welcomed them into the RDF family and urged them to uphold a high level of discipline and observe RDF’s ethics and values as they integrate and work alongside their fellow service members.
He also encouraged them to be inspired by their predecessors, apply and share the knowledge and skills gained during the training, while protecting Rwanda’s sovereignty and safeguarding its citizens. He further reminded them to be prepared to serve in a multinational environment during peacekeeping operations.
The Commandant of the Basic Military Training Centre, Nasho, Maj Gen JB Ngiruwonsanga, emphasised that the graduates underwent intense military training ranging from arms and combat drills, among others and stressed that their commitment demonstrated their readiness for future military operations.
The graduation and enrolment of these new soldiers come at a time when the RDF continues to modernise and expand its capabilities to meet both national and international defence obligations.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan presided over the inauguration ceremony, marking the completion of a project that began under the leadership of her predecessor, the late President John Pombe Magufuli.
The bridge includes a 1.66-kilometre connecting road, designed to ease transport across a region long dependent on ferries.
Among the guests at the ceremony was former First Lady Janeth Magufuli, widow of the late president. The bridge was renamed in Magufuli’s honour, recognising his role in initiating the project in February 2020 as part of a broader infrastructure development agenda.
At the time of Magufuli’s death on March 17, 2021, the bridge was just under 25 percent complete. President Samia pledged continuity and accelerated its progress, overseeing its completion ahead of the original December 2024 target. According to Minister of Works Abdallah Ulega, only 20 percent of the bridge had been built when President Samia took office.
“This is a landmark project—a three-kilometre bridge unlike any other in East and Central Africa,” Ulega said during a budget debate in Parliament in April. “Its completion is a national achievement, and today the nation celebrates.”
Built at a cost of $300 million, the bridge replaces the Kigongo–Busisi ferry route, long criticised for inefficiency and vulnerability to weather disruptions. The new permanent connection is expected to significantly reduce travel time, enhance economic activity in the Lake Zone, and improve access to essential services.
With the JP Magufuli Bridge now open, Tanzania strengthens its regional transport infrastructure and positions itself as a growing hub for trade and connectivity in the Great Lakes region.
The court issued the directive on Thursday, June 19, after rejecting Ingabire’s account of her alleged role in a training program said to have involved former members of DALFA-Umurinzi.
According to the prosecution, the training was aimed at inciting the public against the government and mobilising support for regime change.
In her defence, Ingabire told the court that those accused in the case were former DALFA-Umurinzi members, with the exception of journalist Nsengimana Théoneste, the founder of Umubavu media channel. She, however, denied that the trainings were organised by her party or that she had any knowledge of them.
Following her testimony, the court examined whether her explanation was sufficient to rule out suspicion of criminal activity. It concluded that her statements were inadequate and that the case file contains incriminating evidence against her.
The court found it necessary for the prosecution to conduct a thorough investigation into Ingabire’s involvement before she is formally brought before the court.
As directed, the investigation will take two weeks, after which Ingabire will be presented to the court.
Developed by Gilead Sciences, Yeztugo (generic name: lenacapavir) is the first and only pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) option administered just twice per year, offering a highly effective and potentially transformative tool in curbing HIV transmission.
The approval follows remarkable results from two Phase 3 clinical trials, PURPOSE 1 and PURPOSE 2, in which Yeztugo demonstrated near-complete protection against HIV.
In the PURPOSE 1 study among cisgender women in sub-Saharan Africa, not a single participant who received Yeztugo contracted HIV. In the PURPOSE 2 trial, which enrolled cisgender men and gender-diverse individuals, 99.9% of those given Yeztugo remained HIV negative, with only two infections reported among over 2,100 participants.
“This is the single best opportunity in 44 years of HIV prevention,” said Mitchell Warren, executive director of the HIV advocacy nonprofit AVAC.
Gilead’s CEO, Daniel O’Day, called the approval “historic,” emphasising that Yeztugo could help “end the HIV epidemic once and for all.”
Yeztugo works by blocking HIV’s ability to infect and replicate inside immune cells. Its long-acting formula only requires administration twice a year, solving one of the most persistent barriers to effective PrEP use: daily adherence.
Older PrEP medications, such as Truvada and Descovy, both oral pills taken daily, have shown over 99% effectiveness when used consistently, but real-world adherence has been uneven, particularly among at-risk populations.
The new drug arrives at a pivotal moment. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only about one-third of eligible individuals in the U.S. are currently prescribed any form of PrEP.
Usage is especially low among Black, Latino, and Southern populations, groups disproportionately impacted by HIV. Experts believe Yeztugo’s simplified dosing schedule may help reduce these disparities if access is widespread.
However, challenges remain. At a list price of $14,109 per injection, affordability and insurance coverage will be critical. While Gilead has committed to offering co-pay assistance for insured patients and free medication for eligible uninsured individuals, barriers like high out-of-pocket costs and complex insurance authorisations could restrict uptake.
Adding to concerns is the political climate. The Trump administration’s proposed 2026 budget seeks to slash domestic HIV funding by 35%, including eliminating the CDC’s HIV-prevention division. Experts warn that such cuts could undermine the infrastructure needed to deliver Yeztugo to the populations who need it most.
Dr. Carlos del Rio of Emory University said Yeztugo “could greatly address key barriers like adherence and stigma,” but emphasised the importance of equitable access. “We must ensure it reaches those most vulnerable to HIV.”
Gilead has submitted applications for approval in other countries, including South Africa, Brazil, and EU member states, with the goal of global rollout.
While there is still no cure for HIV or AIDS, the FDA’s approval of Yeztugo brings the U.S. one step closer to controlling the epidemic, with science, strategy, and equitable implementation all playing vital roles.
