Speaking during a press conference at the Kigali Convention Centre on Monday, President Kagame said Rwanda had never made such a commitment to Burundi.
“There is no commitment we ever made that we did not fulfil, not with the President of Burundi, not with anybody,” Kagame said, adding that perhaps Ndayishimiye had “dreamt and thought it had happened.”
Ndayishimiye, in an interview with BBC Gahuzamiryango in July 2026, said Burundi was still waiting for Rwanda to fulfil what the two countries had agreed upon. When asked to specify the matter, he said it concerned the transfer to Bujumbura of individuals accused of attempting to overthrow Nkurunziza in May 2015.
Kagame said he was unaware of any meeting or agreement in which Rwanda had committed to handing over the suspects.
The Head of State accused Ndayishimiye of being dishonest, recounting a conversation the two leaders had following reports that Burundi had deployed troops to North Kivu Province in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Kagame said Rwanda’s intelligence services had informed him about the deployment, prompting him to call Ndayishimiye to seek clarification. He also raised concerns over reports linking Burundi to the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), as well as earlier incursions into Rwanda by armed groups operating from Burundi, including the FLN.
According to Kagame, Ndayishimiye strongly denied that Burundian forces had been deployed to North Kivu and urged him to cross-check the information, suggesting that those who had provided the reports were attempting to cause problems.
“I said, President, I will take your word, much as I think the reports I received were credible, but I will take your word for it,” Kagame said.
However, Kagame said the reports were subsequently confirmed when Burundian soldiers were captured in North Kivu by AFC/M23 fighters.
“A couple of weeks after, they were captured in the north of Kivu,” he remarked.
Kagame said he therefore did not know what commitment or meeting Ndayishimiye was referring to when he claimed Rwanda had failed to honour an agreement regarding the 2015 coup suspects.
Rwanda has in the past said it cannot hand over the persons linked to the coup because they are refugees protected under international law.
Speaking during a press conference at the Kigali Convention Centre on Monday, President Kagame said Rwanda had never made such a commitment to Burundi.
Kagame made the remarks during a press conference on August 24, 2026, while responding to concerns raised by a journalist about shortages and service challenges affecting some areas.
Rwanda has made significant progress in expanding access to basic services in recent years.
According to Rwanda’s Seventh Integrated Household Living Conditions Survey (EICV7), household electricity access increased from 34% in 2017 to 72% in 2024, with rural access rising sharply from 24% to 65%.
Access to improved drinking water also increased from 87% to 90% over the same period.
Kagame said Rwanda’s current situation is different from where the country started, but acknowledged that the demand for services continues to outpace available resources.
“You mentioned where we started from, and I think the situation we have today is different from what it was then. I think there are investments that need to be made. But as I said when answering another question, there are many things we want to do.”
Kagame said limited resources remain one of the constraints, particularly as the country seeks to expand access to essential services such as water and electricity.
“But the resources we have are not equal to all those needs. We are always looking for ways to increase those resources, whether it is for water or electricity.”
However, he said not every challenge can be attributed to a lack of resources, arguing that some improvements could be achieved through more efficient management of what is already available.
“As for some of the other things you mentioned, they do not necessarily require some completely different or extraordinary resources. They require us to efficiently use what we already have. There are also things that can be done by individuals or jointly with the government. They are within our capacity, but sometimes they are not done as they should be.”
The President called for stronger follow-up and accountability, saying the government should not use resource constraints as an explanation for failing to address problems that are within its existing capacity to solve.
“We cannot always have an excuse for not doing what we already have the capacity to do, because there are many things we are capable of doing but which are not being done.”
Kagame said the government should continue looking for resources to address areas where its existing capacity is insufficient, while also speeding up interventions where solutions are already possible.
“For the things we do not have the capacity to do, we should look for the resources. And where it is possible to move faster, that is what we want.”
He described water and electricity challenges as issues that require continuous attention, stressing the importance of having people responsible for delivering projects properly and on time.
“These are challenges that continue over the years, but we have to keep finding people who can do things properly and on time, using the resources available. And where resources are not available, there are ways of continuing to look for them.”
Kagame also linked the quality of public services to how citizens assess their leaders and the government, saying people ultimately have the right to demand answers when problems that could have been addressed remain unresolved.
“That is how Rwandans measure whether their leaders are serving them properly, or whether their government is serving them properly. When the time comes, we pay for it. And if there are things that could have been done better, citizens will ask us why we did not do enough when it was possible.”
He said citizens should also play a role in holding leaders accountable.
“They have their time as well. They also need to have a role in it and hold us accountable.”
President Paul Kagame addressing members of the press on August 24, 2026. Rwanda is implementing projects that will increase daily treated water production from more than 367,000 cubic meters this year to over 688,000 cubic meters per day by 2029
Kagame made the remarks during a press conference on August 24, 2026, in response to a journalist’s question about the fate of factories that had been shut down and their employees as authorities intensified a nationwide campaign against alcoholic beverages that fail to meet required standards.
He said the debate should begin with evidence of the harm caused by the products rather than claims or perceptions surrounding the crackdown.
“On the issue of substandard alcoholic drinks, we should not base our conclusions only on what people say. People can say all kinds of things depending on their perceptions or what they want others to believe,” Kagame said.
“We should also look at what is happening in reality and at the evidence before us.”
Rwanda has stepped up enforcement against illicit and substandard alcoholic beverages in recent weeks.
In Kigali alone, authorities have closed over 30 factories and businesses found to be operating outside required standards, while thousands of litres of ethanol and large quantities of alcoholic beverages have been seized.
The crackdown has also resulted in the arrest of public officials suspected of facilitating the production or distribution of non-compliant drinks.
But Kagame said the government’s starting point should remain the impact of the products on people’s health.
“There are substandard drinks that have caused deaths. That is where we should begin our discussion,” he said.
“The question is simple: Do these drinks kill people? Have they killed people? If the answer is yes, then that is where we should start.”
Kagame said the scale of the deaths should not be underestimated, arguing that the problem goes beyond isolated cases.
“People are dying, and in significant numbers,” he said. “If you follow the news, you will know that it is not simply a matter of two people dying today and another person dying tomorrow.”
“People die in groups of 20, 30, 50, and sometimes as many as 100 in a single day. When you add up the number of people who die over a year, you begin to understand the scale of the problem.”
The President rejected arguments that the crackdown should be weighed primarily against the factories and jobs involved in the alcoholic beverage industry.
“Before we talk about factories and the workers employed in them, we must first address the health and lives of these people,” he said.
“Do we want workers who will ultimately be killed by the products made in those factories?”
Instead, he said, the objective should be to have businesses that operate safely and workers who can return home without being exposed to products that harm consumers.
Kagame also pointed to the fact that not all harmful alcoholic beverages consumed in Rwanda are necessarily produced domestically.
“The harmful drinks that are killing people are not necessarily all manufactured here or originating here. Some come from outside the country. They are brought in without meeting quality standards, and they end up killing people,” he said.
He added that the effects of unsafe products can vary, with some causing immediate harm while others may contribute to health problems that emerge much later.
“Some kill people the same day or within the same week. Others may cause harm that becomes apparent after a year. They can slowly damage a person’s health until the person eventually dies,” Kagame said.
The President also questioned how protecting businesses could be used to justify practices that expose consumers to potentially fatal products.
“I do not understand how anyone could support such practices while arguing that they are thinking about factories and the people working in them, while ignoring those who are being killed day after day, as we see and as we know,” he said.
He said the government’s responsibility extends beyond individual producers to the institutions charged with regulating businesses and enforcing quality standards.
“But beyond the individual who produces something that kills people, we must also ask how the country is governed. Can a country simply watch its people die? What kind of society would that be?” Kagame said.
“That is why there are institutions and officials responsible for quality standards and enforcement. They are there to ensure that activities and products do not harm people, but instead contribute to improving people’s lives.”
His comments come amid ongoing crackdown that has also targeted alleged regulatory failures, with Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) presenting 18 public servants on August 13, including Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (Rwanda FDA) Director General Prof. Emile Bienvenu and 10 employees, alongside officials from the Rwanda Standards Board and local government.
RIB said 104 people had been arrested since July 20, with 97 case files submitted to prosecutors.
Investigations include alleged improper licensing and certification, while five local officials are accused of helping factory operators evade inspections.
More than 150 factories have since been closed, with Kigali authorities seizing over 470,000 litres of ethanol and nearly four million bottles of substandard alcoholic beverages.
Health authorities say more than 500 people have been treated, over 50 have died and more than 100 have reportedly suffered vision loss.
Kagame said such allegations should be investigated and those responsible given an opportunity to explain themselves.
“Those involved will have an opportunity to explain themselves when they are investigated and held accountable. They will have to provide the answers,” he said.
He also acknowledged that the conduct of enforcement agencies should itself be subject to scrutiny where necessary.
“If there are concerns about how these processes are carried out, how people are arrested or how they are investigated, those concerns can also be examined. If there is a problem, it may need to be addressed,” he said.
However, he cautioned against allowing such concerns to overshadow the wider public health problem.
“If some institutions are not doing their work as they should, they must be held accountable and corrected. But that should not distract us from confronting the bigger problem that is harming and killing people.”
Kagame further linked the alcohol crackdown to a broader responsibility to confront substances that pose risks to public health, saying Rwanda had also been discussing the growing use and promotion of other harmful substances.
“A country cannot simply watch its people die and say that no one should ask questions. Someone must ask why people are dying,” he said.
He maintained that consumers have a right to access products they need, but businesses and individuals must comply with the law and ensure that what they produce or bring into the country does not put lives at risk.
“As a leader of this country, I have to look at what is best for the country and its people and work with them so that they understand what serves their interests and what does not,” Kagame said.
“Those who want to break the law simply because they want to do things their own way and put their personal interests first will have to face the authorities responsible for enforcing the law.”
President Kagame said Rwanda’s crackdown on substandard alcoholic beverages must prioritise the lives and health of consumers over the interests of factories and their workers.
Speaking during a press conference at the Kigali Convention Centre on Monday, Kagame said Rwanda’s security concerns over the FDLR have persisted for about three decades and will continue to shape the country’s involvement in the regional conflict as long as the armed group remains a threat.
“Rwanda’s problem has always been the FDLR in Congo. I can repeat it a hundred times,” Kagame said.
“And if this problem of FDLR is not resolved, of course Rwanda will always remain involved as part of this problem. There are no two ways about it.”
President Kagame was responding to a question about a recently reported Congolese protocol for the disarmament, demobilisation and cantonment of FDLR fighters, which Kinshasa said was part of its commitments under the Washington peace agreement. Rwanda has rejected the arrangement as inconsistent with the agreement. The United States, which brokered the deal, has said the DRC must neutralise the FDLR as part of its commitments under the Washington Accords.
The journalist asked whether Rwanda viewed the initiative as the neutralisation process envisaged under the agreement or as a political manoeuvre.
Kagame said efforts to resolve the FDLR issue had been ongoing for decades, involving the United Nations, the United States, European countries, African states and other actors, but had failed to address the root causes of the problem.
“The handling and the mishandling of this problem over many years is known. The actors are known,” he remarked
He argued that successive efforts had focused on superficial aspects of the crisis rather than addressing its underlying causes.
The Head of State also rejected arguments that Rwanda uses the FDLR, formed by individuals responsible for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, as a justification for its involvement in eastern DRC.
“If you don’t want Rwanda, if nobody keeps saying Rwanda, Rwanda, Rwanda, and doesn’t want Rwanda to have anything to say in this, why don’t you remove this problem and see whether Rwanda is using it as an excuse?” he posed.
‘We will do anything that contributes to that protection’
Kagame said Rwanda’s approach would be guided first by the need to protect itself, while also seeking to avoid giving its adversaries opportunities to threaten the country.
“We behave in a manner that protects us at any cost. We will do anything that contributes to that protection, day or night,” he stressed.
“There are no two ways about it; that one we will, no question.”
He added that Rwanda would seek to act responsibly while protecting its interests.
“We will do what is right to protect ourselves, and we will do it without fear, favour, day or night, any time,” Kagame said.
President Kagame also maintained that Rwanda’s desire for peace remained central to its approach to the regional crisis.
“We want peace to the point that we are ready to fight for it. And that’s our main goal. We want peace, and we want to work with others to have peace,” he said.
His remarks came as he questioned the effectiveness of international efforts to address the conflict in eastern DRC, including the use of sanctions.
Kagame argued that sanctions had created additional problems rather than resolving the underlying conflict.
“Instead of sanctioning FDLR or those who work with them or support them, they sanction those who fight them. I don’t understand the logic,” he noted.
He also questioned the failure to address the origins of the conflict involving various armed groups in eastern DRC, including AFC/M23.
Kagame said Rwanda would continue working with other countries on peace efforts while maintaining its own security as a priority.
“We are happy to do that, I think. It is a pleasure to do the hardest task to protect ourselves. That’s what it is,” he said.
Speaking during a press conference at the Kigali Convention Centre on Monday, Kagame said Rwanda’s security concerns over the FDLR have persisted for about three decades and will continue to shape the country’s involvement in the regional crisis as long as the armed group remains a threat.
The figure translates to about 844 new cases every month and 11,241 over the 12-month period, highlighting continued challenges in controlling the HIV epidemic in the city.
The study reviewed 649,570 people who were tested for HIV at various health facilities across Kampala during the period.
Women accounted for 64 percent of those tested, while men made up the remaining 36 percent. People aged between 20 and 24 constituted the largest proportion of those who underwent testing.
However, women also accounted for the majority of newly identified HIV-positive cases, at 62 percent, compared with 38 percent among men. The largest share of new positive cases was recorded among people aged between 30 and 39.
Dr. Douglas Tuhumwire, KCCA’s care and treatment lead, said the authority suspects several factors could be contributing to the rise in new cases, including unregulated sexual activity in massage parlours, spas and lodges, domestic violence, inequalities and sexual behaviour influenced by digital and social media.
He said the suspected factors require further investigation to establish their contribution to the increase.
The findings were presented during the 2026 Kampala HIV/TB Stakeholders’ Meeting, where health officials and other partners renewed calls for stronger HIV prevention efforts, particularly among young people.
Josephine Kalebei, executive director of Reach Out Mbuya Community Health Initiative, described the trend as “very scary” and stressed that prevention remains critical as funding for HIV programmes declines.
“We are calling upon every actor to take the issue of prevention seriously because since these children have grown up in the era where we have medication, they are neither worried nor aware of the dangers of HIV,” she said.
Kampala Lord Mayor Ronald Balimwezo called for stronger coordination among government agencies and development partners involved in the HIV response. He also urged residents to regularly test for HIV to help guide prevention and treatment efforts.
The study further found that Kampala has not yet achieved the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets. About 88 percent of people living with HIV know their status, while 78 percent of those who know their status are on treatment. However, 97.5 percent of people receiving treatment have achieved viral suppression.
A health worker draws blood from a man to test for HIV in Kampala. Uganda’s capital, Kampala, recorded an average of 211 new HIV-positive cases every week between July 2025 and June 2026, according to a study by the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA).
The celebration provided an opportunity to reflect on achievements, celebrate Rwandan cultural values and renew a commitment to contributing to Rwanda’s development.
Blaise Bizimana, President of the Rwandan community in Utah, highlighted some of the key initiatives the community has undertaken, including contributing to the Dusangire Lunch programme and paying community-based health insurance premiums for 1,000 residents of Nyagatare District.
Bizimana thanked the Government of Rwanda, particularly President Paul Kagame, as well as the Rwandan Embassy in the United States, for the leadership and support provided to Rwandans living abroad.
The more than 500 Rwandans living in Utah also expressed interest in hosting Rwanda Day and submitted a letter to the Rwandan Embassy formally requesting to host the event.
Godfrey Gasasira, First Counsellor at the Rwandan Embassy in the United States, who represented Ambassador Mathilde Mukantabana at the celebrations, commended the community for organising the Umuganura event and inviting the Embassy to join them.
Gasasira reminded participants that Umuganura is an annual occasion to celebrate the fruits of collective efforts and achievements, while also providing an opportunity to set new goals and make fresh commitments towards building Rwanda.
“Umuganura holds great significance in Rwanda’s history. It is a day to celebrate the fruits of everything we have accomplished. The Umuganura ceremony is a step towards building the Rwanda we want,” he said.
Using economic data, Gasasira highlighted Rwanda’s continued economic growth and emphasised the contribution of Rwandans living abroad to the country’s development.
In 2025, remittances sent to Rwanda by members of the diaspora reached $640 million, an increase of 27% compared with 2024. The funds support families and contribute to education, healthcare, businesses and other sectors of the economy.
He also noted that the diaspora’s contribution goes beyond sending money home. It includes attracting investors and tourists, promoting Rwandan culture and representing Rwanda positively abroad.
Participants were encouraged to remember that every Rwandan, whether living in Rwanda or abroad, has a responsibility and role to play in building the Rwanda they want.
The celebrations featured traditional Rwandan dances and a performance depicting the history and significance of Umuganura, entertaining and engaging the participants.
Members of the Rwandan community in Utah have celebrated Umuganura through traditional performances and cultural activities.The President of Rwandan community in Utah Blaise Bizimana addresses participants during the Umuganura celebration.More than 300 people attended Umuganura celebration organised by the Rwandan community in Utah.First Counsellor at the Rwandan Embassy in the United States Godfrey Gasasira addresses the Rwandan community during Umuganura celebrations in Utah.
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.
Muhanga District Mayor Kayitare Jacqueline will be remembered for helping transform the town, with numerous multi-storey commercial buildings constructed during her tenure.Rwamagana District Mayor Mbonyumuvunyi Radjab will be remembered for expanding the town’s tarmac road network.Ruhango District Mayor Habarurema Valens will be remembered for the tarmac roads built around the town during his tenure.Huye District Mayor Ange Sebutege will be remembered for helping revitalise a town that had appeared to be losing momentum.Gatsibo District Mayor Gasana Richard will be remembered for overseeing the construction of several bus terminals and tarmac roads across the district.Bugesera District Mayor Mutabazi Richard will be remembered for his role in advancing the district’s infrastructure and sports development.Gisagara District Mayor Rutaburingoga Jerome will be remembered for overseeing the arrival of tarmac roads in the district during his tenure.Nyabihu District Mayor Mukandayisenga Antoinette helped oversee the development of progressive terraces covering more than 8,000 hectares.
The budget was approved during the league’s regular pre-season meeting held on Sunday, August 23, at Four Points by Sheraton in Kigali, bringing together representatives of all 16 member clubs.
The Rwf1,280,055,000 budget represents an increase of about Rwf480 million compared to the Rwf800 million budget approved for the 2025/26 season during the league’s General Assembly in November 2025.
The meeting also adopted regulations governing the participation of Sudanese teams Al Hilal and Al Merrikh as guest clubs in the BK Pro League following the disruption of domestic football caused by the war in Sudan.
Under the approved regulations, a Sudanese team that finishes at the top of the league standings will receive an Honorary Trophy, while the official BK Pro League Champions Trophy will go to the highest-ranked Rwandan team.
The Sudanese teams will, however, be eligible for match-winning bonuses in line with the approved regulations and budget. Their players will also be eligible to compete for individual awards, from Player of the Match to Player of the Year, on the same basis as their Rwandan counterparts.
The league further set limits on the number of non-Sudanese players the guest teams can use. Sudanese clubs will be allowed to field a maximum of six non-Sudanese players at any one time and register up to eight on a matchday squad.
The resolutions come as the Rwanda Premier League and its member clubs finalise preparations for the start of the 2026/27 season.
The Rwanda Premier League, which organises the BK Pro League, has approved a Rwf1.28 billion budget for the 2026/27 season, a significant increase from the Rwf800 million approved for the previous campaign.
Byanyima said on Sunday that Besigye, who has been in custody since November 2024, remained weak and required continued care following his recent health challenges.
“I am hurt, angry and anxious. Kizza Besigye has been returned to his prison cell, and his sisters who have been caring for him at the prison hospital have been sent away,” Byanyima said.
She added that he was still extremely weak and expressed concern that conditions in prison could affect his recovery.
The Uganda Prisons Service had not immediately commented on Besigye’s transfer or his current condition.
Besigye’s health has been under scrutiny since he collapsed during a court session in Kampala on July 29 while attending proceedings in his treason case.
Detained Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye is put in an ambulance after he collapsed while attending a court session where he is on trial for treason, at the High Court in Kampala, Uganda, July 29, 2026.
A subsequent psychiatric assessment found that he remained alert and able to understand information but had difficulty speaking or writing. Doctors said he had preserved comprehension but an impairment affecting his ability to express himself, which could interfere with his participation in his defence.
According to the medical report, Besigye could communicate by pointing to letters and numbers, although doctors noted that the method made it difficult for him to provide detailed instructions or communicate effectively about his case.
The medical team recommended further assessment and continued speech, language, physical, occupational and neurological rehabilitation.
Meanwhile, proceedings in the treason case against Besigye and his co-accused have continued. Justice Emmanuel Baguma allowed the trial to proceed despite Besigye’s absence on medical grounds, with prosecution witness Wilson Orlando giving testimony.
The medical assessment did not categorically declare Besigye unfit to stand trial but noted that his communication difficulties could affect his ability to participate meaningfully in the proceedings.
Besigye, 70, is jointly charged with Hajj Obeid Lutale and Capt. Denis Oola with treason-related offences stemming from allegations that they travelled to Kenya and held meetings aimed at plotting to overthrow the Ugandan government. The three have denied the charges.
Besigye and Lutale were detained in November 2024 after they were brought back to Uganda from neighbouring Kenya, where they had travelled before their arrest. Besigye has since remained in custody as the case proceeds.
Detained Ugandan opposition figure Kizza Besigye gestures before he collapsed while attending a court session where he is on trial for treason, at the High Court in Kampala, Uganda, July 29, 2026.
“During the day, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Moscow time, air defense systems intercepted and destroyed 269 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones,” the ministry said in a statement.
A day earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that over the past 40 days, the Ukrainian Armed Forces had persistently launched attacks on Russian civilian and logistics facilities using missiles and drones, which he described as “another gamble” by Ukraine and its Western backers aimed at inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia.
Putin said that Russian troops were not only continuing offensives along all fronts but also stepping up military pressure, and expressed confidence in accomplishing the goals of the special military operation.
Russian air defense system intercepted and shot down 269 Ukrainian drones over multiple Russian regions in 12 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday.
