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.
The singer will perform on Saturday, September 5, a day after the 21st Kwita Izina Gorilla Naming Ceremony in Kinigi, Musanze District. The ceremony is scheduled for September 4 under the theme “Conservation is Life: Sustaining the Future.”
Rema, whose real name is Divine Ikubor, will be joined by Rwandan and regional performers, with local artiste Kivumbi King already confirmed among the opening acts. More artists are expected to be announced ahead of the concert.
The concert will serve as the entertainment finale to this year’s Kwita Izina celebrations, which bring together conservationists, government officials, tourism stakeholders, communities and international visitors to celebrate Rwanda’s mountain gorilla conservation efforts.
Rema has established himself as one of Africa’s most recognisable Afrobeats artists, gaining international attention with songs including “Dumebi,” “Iron Man,” “Woman,” “Soundgasm,” “Charm” and “Calm Down.”
His global breakthrough was further boosted by the remix of “Calm Down” featuring American singer Selena Gomez. The song peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of the most successful Afrobeats crossover records internationally.
The Nigerian star has also collected several major honours, including the MTV Video Music Award for Best Afrobeats and the Billboard Music Award for Top Afrobeats Song for “Calm Down.” In 2023, he was named Global African Artist and Song of the Year at the Trace Awards in Kigali.
His 2024 album HEIS earned him his first Grammy nomination, adding to his growing list of international achievements.
For Rwanda, Rema’s appearance adds another high-profile entertainment component to Kwita Izina, an event that has expanded beyond the gorilla naming ceremony to showcase the country’s conservation, tourism and cultural ambitions.
Irène Murerwa, Chief Tourism Officer at the Rwanda Development Board, said Kwita Izina is also an opportunity to celebrate Rwanda’s culture and people.
“We are excited to welcome Rema to Kigali for what promises to be a great night at BK Arena,” she said, inviting Rwandans, visitors and music fans from across the region to attend the September 5 concert.
The concert is expected to draw music fans from Rwanda and neighbouring countries, while further strengthening Kigali’s position as a destination for major international entertainment events.
Kwita Izina was launched as an annual gorilla naming ceremony in 2005 and was inspired by the Rwandan tradition of naming children soon after birth. According to the Rwanda Development Board, 438 mountain gorillas have been named through the ceremony since its inception.
Over the years, the event has grown into a major conservation gathering, bringing together researchers, policymakers, conservationists, tourism operators, business leaders and communities around Rwanda’s mountain gorilla habitat.
Rwanda was confirmed as the host of the 2027 edition was made during the closing ceremony of the 2026 FEASSA Games in Morogoro, Tanzania, which ran from August 12 to 22.
FEASSA President Justus Mugisha confirmed that Rwanda would host the next edition of the regional schools sports competition.
“Rwanda will host the next FEASSA Games. We look forward to working with our colleagues in Rwanda to ensure the Games are successfully organised,” Mugisha said.
The Rwanda Federation of School Sports and Culture (FRSS) is planning to hold the 2027 Games, which will be the 24th edition, in Musanze, according to information obtained by IGIHE.
The announcement comes after Rwanda recorded its best-ever medal haul at a FEASSA Games held outside the country. Rwandan teams won 13 medals in Morogoro, including five gold, two silver and six bronze.
At the 23rd edition of the Games, Rwanda was represented by 243 students across 20 teams competing in football, 5×5 basketball, 3×3 basketball, handball, table tennis, volleyball and athletics.
Rwanda’s under-15 teams were among the standout performers, winning gold in boys’ volleyball, girls’ handball and girls’ football. ITS Kigali also retained its title in boys’ basketball, while Tuyishime Eric won gold in the 100 metres.
Rwanda last hosted the FEASSA Games in 2023 in Huye, attracting students from Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya.
Since joining FEASSA in 2005, Rwanda has hosted the Games on three other occasions: in Kigali in 2008, Huye in 2015 and Musanze in 2018.
The 2026 edition in Morogoro brought together about 6,000 athletes and 2,000 officials and accompanying members, who competed in 43 sports.
The competition featured teams from Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya, Burundi and Uganda.
Rwanda was confirmed as the host of the 2027 edition during the closing ceremony of the 2026 FEASSA Games in Morogoro, Tanzania, which ran from August 12 to 22.
Rwanda was among the five countries that participated in the 2026 FEASSA Games in Morogoro, Tanzania.
Huye hosted the FEASSA Games when Rwanda last hosted the competition in 2023.
The robot, Tiangong Ultra, completed the 100-meter sprint in 9.39 seconds during the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing on Saturday. The time was 0.19 seconds faster than Bolt’s human world record of 9.58 seconds, set at the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin.
Tiangong Ultra, developed by the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, initially fell behind during the race before overtaking Lightning, a humanoid robot produced by technology company Honor, in the final stretch. Lightning finished second in 9.47 seconds.
The performance came after an even faster preparation run by Lightning, which Chinese state media reported completed the distance in 9.32 seconds. The robot reached a peak speed of 14.5 meters per second during the run.
The robots’ performances were a dramatic improvement from last year’s competition. Tiangong Ultra completed the 100-meter race in 21.50 seconds during the inaugural World Humanoid Robot Games, meaning its latest official time represents a major gain in speed.
The humanoid’s running time was 0.19 seconds faster than Bolt’s world record of 9.58 seconds, set at the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin.
The race also demonstrated some of the challenges still facing humanoid robots. After crossing the finish line, Tiangong Ultra became unstable and veered to one side, forcing nearby spectators to move away. Lightning also fell after completing the race and had to be removed from the track on a stretcher.
The sprint was among 51 events being contested at this year’s World Humanoid Robot Games at Beijing’s National Speed Skating Oval. The competition features events including football, dance, long jump, weightlifting and industrial tasks.
More than 2,000 robots are taking part, with 2,056 robots from 666 teams representing 16 countries and six continents participating in this year’s games. The number of participating teams has risen sharply from 280 in the first edition.
Robots are also making an impact in other athletic events. One humanoid robot cleared 2.88 meters in the standing high jump, exceeding Cuban athlete Javier Sotomayor’s 2.45-meter human world record set in 1993.
Lightning also won the humanoid robot half marathon, finishing in 50 minutes and 26 seconds. The robot stands 1.69 meters tall, and researchers extended its leg length from 95 centimeters to 1.05 meters before the race in an effort to improve its performance.
The rapid progress comes as China continues to expand its position as a major producer of humanoid robots. The technology has also become a point of tension between Beijing and Washington. The Trump administration in July banned imports of humanoid robots into the United States, citing national security concerns.
China has rejected the U.S. restrictions. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Beijing opposed what she described as Washington’s excessive use of national security arguments against Chinese companies, warning that protectionism could ultimately harm U.S. businesses and consumers.
The World Humanoid Robot Games will continue through Wednesday, as researchers and companies use the competition to showcase increasingly capable machines, and test how closely robots can replicate, and potentially surpass, human athletic performance.
The regional legislation, the EAC Pharmaceuticals Bill, championed at the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) by Rwandan legislator Francine Rutazana, builds on years of technical work under the EAC Medicines Regulatory Harmonization (EAC-MRH) initiative. The proposed Act is designed to elevate non-binding regional guidelines into a legally binding framework governing essential human medicines, vaccines, and medical products across all eight EAC Partner States.
National stakeholder consultations were held across the member states from August 17 to 21, 2026, to refine key provisions ahead of the Bill’s remaining legislative stages at EALA and its eventual submission to the EAC Summit of Heads of State for assent.
In each Partner State, stakeholders across the healthcare supply chain, including pharmaceutical manufacturers, public health policymakers, National Medicines Regulatory Authorities (NMRAs), academic institutions, traders, and industry players, met to identify provisions needed in the final text.
The consolidated country recommendations will be submitted to EALA for harmonization before the Bill undergoes formal readings.
The legislative push reinforces long-running EALA efforts to harmonize pharmaceutical regulation, improve market surveillance, and promote locally manufactured medical products within the Community. Rutazana previously introduced private member legislative motions aimed at encouraging regional manufacturing, enforcing Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards, and establishing mutual recognition procedures for medicine registrations.
Speaking following consultations held in Rwanda from August 20 to 21, 2026, Rutazana noted that transitioning existing guidelines into statutory law will streamline operations among regulatory authorities across the region.
She cited National Medicines Regulatory Authorities as a primary example, noting that such institutions currently operate at varying levels of development across the bloc. While countries like Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania have established national food and drug authorities, other Partner States are operating with developing frameworks or legacy systems.
Rutazana emphasized that these structural discrepancies make joint safety assessments and cross-border market surveillance difficult without a binding regional legal instrument.
The EAC Pharmaceuticals Bill also establishes unified requirements for local and international pharmaceutical manufacturers operating within the Community.
“Pharmaceutical manufacturers need a clear statutory framework to collaborate effectively, as variations in product quality standards impede cross-border trade,” she said.
“Harmonizing quality and safety compliance ensures that if a manufacturing facility operating in one Partner State is inspected and authorized, its products can trade across the bloc without facing redundant, country-by-country inspections.”
Rutazana added that a binding regional framework will expand the market footprint for EAC-produced essential medicines, allowing regional health systems to source quality-assured products locally rather than depending heavily on external imports.
Under EALA’s legislative roadmap, the Bill is expected to complete its parliamentary stages by December 2026 before being presented to the EAC Summit of Heads of State in 2027 for final assent into law.
Mwesigye John Patrick, Director of the EAC Regional Centre of Excellence for Vaccines, Immunization and Health Supply Chain Management (EAC RCE-VIHSCM), told IGIHE that the Bill addresses long-standing enforcement gaps in regional health cooperation.
He explained that while the EAC has developed technical guidelines over the past decade, their non-binding nature creates legal uncertainty during supply chain disputes or enforcement actions.
“This law will provide statutory authority to existing regulatory frameworks. While technical guidelines remain operational, the law will take precedence in any legal or cross-border dispute,” Mwesigye said.
“Previously, there was no comprehensive regional law specifically protecting buyers, suppliers, or public health authorities in cases involving substandard or falsified medicines.”
Under the proposed statute, a standardized Mutual Recognition Procedure (MRP) and unified market authorization system will govern all human medicines entering EAC markets, whether produced locally or imported from outside the region.
The framework is structured to streamline trade barriers for compliant local manufacturers while maintaining rigorous oversight.
“Regulators in our respective Partner States will continue performing GMP inspections at manufacturing facilities to ensure strict adherence to safety and quality standards,” Mwesigye said.
“Once authorized, national procurement agencies, such as Rwanda Medical Supply, can integrate these approved products into their supply networks, allowing seamless distribution across borders without unnecessary administrative hurdles.”
The framework will also empower NMRAs to execute joint, region-wide product recalls whenever a safety or quality defect is identified in a pharmaceutical batch.
119 operational pharmaceutical facilities across the EAC
According to data cited by Mwesigye, the EAC currently hosts 119 licensed human pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities.
Kenya accounts for 30 plants, followed by Uganda (38), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (34), Tanzania (15), Rwanda (7), Burundi (2), and Somalia (1). South Sudan currently has no operational pharmaceutical manufacturing plant.
Together, these facilities satisfy approximately 30% of the human pharmaceutical demand within the EAC, though local production capacity varies widely between Partner States, falling below 1% in some countries. An estimated 50 additional pharmaceutical production plants are currently under development across the bloc.
Mwesigye cautioned that the 30% regional production figure does not equate to complete product coverage. A single manufacturing facility may produce only 20 active formulations, whereas national healthcare systems often require up to 4,000 distinct pharmaceutical lines, leaving the bloc reliant on external imports for 70% of its medical needs.
“The progressive establishment of new facilities has been encouraged by the regulatory guidelines developed under the EAC-MRH initiative over the years,” Mwesigye said. “Enacting a full regional law will provide the long-term regulatory certainty needed to attract large-scale industrial investment.”
The legislative timeline aligns with the African Union’s continent-wide mandate under the Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM), which targets 60% self-sufficiency in African vaccine production by 2040, up from less than 1%. Harmonized regulatory frameworks and regional procurement preferences are seen as vital foundations for achieving that target.
Rwanda healthcare stakeholders submit views on proposed EAC medicines law.Mwesigye John Patrick, Director of the EAC Regional Centre of Excellence for Vaccines, Immunization and Health Supply Chain Management (EAC RCE-VIHSCM), told IGIHE that the Bill addresses long-standing enforcement gaps in regional health cooperation.The regional legislation, the EAC Pharmaceuticals Bill, is being championed at the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) by Rwandan legislator Francine Rutazana.
Rezaei, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, made the remarks in an interview with state-run IRIB TV.
He said Iran would first negotiate with such countries and ask them to stay out of the conflict, but warned that if they refuse, Tehran will strike their interests, and that if surrounding countries choose to join the U.S. siege, Iran “will not let even a single drop of oil be exported from the Strait of Hormuz.”
He noted that Iran has learned how to bypass U.S. sanctions and continue oil sales over the years.
Rezaei also repeated that the Hormuz Strait will remain closed unless the United States fulfills its commitments under the Iran-U.S. peace memorandum of understanding signed in June, adding that Washington must act first this time.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the United States would launch “the most crushing economic operation ever” against Iran, describing it as an “economic warfare and isolation on an unprecedented scale.”
Iran’s top security official Mohsen Rezaei warned Saturday that any country participating in the U.S. economic war against Iran will be considered an “enemy” by Tehran.
