The budget cut follows the government’s securing of cheaper concessional and domestic financing for major projects, including Kigali’s new international airport, reducing the funding requirement by Rwf 168.2 billion.
Minister Murangwa said external financing is expected to increase by Rwf 250.5 billion, mainly from grants and concessional loans, while projected tax and other domestic revenues have been revised upward by Rwf 41 billion, signalling confidence in Rwanda’s growing economy.
The recurrent budget has been revised downward by Rwf 198 billion to Rwf 4,114.9 billion. This adjustment, the minister said, reflects changes in public debt servicing, subsidies, and expenditures on goods and services.
At the same time, investment in capital and development projects has been increased by Rwf 253.2 billion, reaching Rwf 2,115.8 billion.
The revised budget has been submitted to Parliament, which approved it for detailed review by the Finance Committee before final adoption.
The 25-year-old is the engine of the national team, a floor general who has traded the skyscrapers of Queens for the thousand hills of Rwanda, becoming the face of a new era for the sport in East Africa.
In a candid and heartfelt sit-down with IGIHE, Philoxy opened up about the remarkable transition from her American upbringing to her role as the captain of Rwanda’s national women’s basketball team.
Since joining the squad in 2023, she has undergone a profound transformation, balancing her identity as a professional athlete with a newfound “cultural awakening” that has redefined her sense of purpose.
{{The call that changed everything
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Philoxy’s story begins in the United States, where she established herself as a legend at the University of Massachusetts (UMass). She left the program as its all-time leader in assists and games played, a “pure” point guard with a high basketball IQ. Despite her mother hailing from Rwanda, Philoxy admitted, “I was just an American in my eyes.”
That changed just two weeks after her college graduation in 2023. An unexpected call invited her to represent her mother’s homeland. The prospect was as terrifying as it was thrilling. “I was scared,” she admits, recalling her first solo trip to Africa. “Everything was like a whole new part of the world.”
However, that initial fear quickly evaporated. In her debut at the 2023 Women’s AfroBasket, she didn’t just fit in; she dominated, leading the tournament in several categories and guiding Rwanda to a historic fourth-place finish.
Her leadership isn’t just a title; it’s backed by a resume of domestic dominance. Before taking the reins of the national team, Philoxy proved she could win on Rwandan soil. She was instrumental in leading REG (Rwanda Energy Group) to a national championship and famously set a record by scoring 41 points in a single game during the Africa Women’s Basketball League.
Now representing APR Women Basketball Club, Philoxy continues to bridge the gap between international experience and local talent.
“I feel like I was always a captain without the title,” she explains, noting that her teammates voted her into the role because of the genuine connections she builds off the court.
Philoxy is optimistic but realistic about the trajectory of Rwandan basketball. “It’s not expanding fast, but slow motion is better than no motion,” she notes. She points to the construction of world-class training facilities and the growing fan base as catalysts for change.
Reflecting on recent international performances, she identifies communication as the hurdle the team must clear to reach the next level. “If everyone’s not understanding each other, everything falls apart,” she says, emphasising that heart and talent must be matched by tactical cohesion.
{{Unique, selfless, and beautiful
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Outside the courts, Philoxy has embraced the Rwandan way of life, which she describes in three words: unique, selfless, and beautiful. She enjoys the country’s fresh, healthy food and has adopted local staples into her diet. Her favourite meal? Chicken legs with white rice and red sauce, steamed greens, and chapati. ‘I love chapati,’ she adds with a laugh.
Her journey is also etched into her skin. She sports a tattoo of Romans 8:18: “What we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.” It is a mantra that has carried her through professional stints in Greece and Mexico, and now anchors her as she mentors the next generation of Rwandan stars like Ramla Umunezero.
{{Dreams beyond the court
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In her mid-20s, Philoxy’s ambitions remain global. Within five years, she hopes to test her skills in the elite leagues of Japan or China, following the path of the world’s top WNBA stars. But regardless of where her career takes her, her bond with Rwanda, symbolised by her cherished dreadlocks and her mother’s name tattooed on her arm, is permanent.
Her message to young girls who aspire to take on basketball on the global stage is: “Keep pushing. No matter what people tell you… It’s only possible if you believe it’s possible.”
Mushikiwabo, who has led the Francophone organisation since late 2018, said the strained relations have prevented her from travelling to Kinshasa.
“Because Kinshasa does not invite me, I have not travelled there. If the Congolese invite me, I will go,” she told Jeune Afrique, stressing her willingness to maintain diplomatic engagement despite the freeze.
Reacting to questions about supposed political tensions surrounding her candidacy, Mushikiwabo emphasised that the DRC’s opposition is expected and political rather than a reflection of her performance.
“Every election comes with opposition, and some use it to settle political scores. The fact that my candidacy is divisive for the DRC is no surprise. I anticipated it, and it is part of the game,” she added.
Rwanda officially nominated Mushikiwabo for a third term in January, ahead of the 20th Francophonie Summit, scheduled for November in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. If re-elected, she would join former Senegalese President Abdou Diouf as the only Secretary General to serve three terms. Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe, told Jeune Afrique that the decision reflects Mushikiwabo’s widely recognised leadership and achievements.
“At the last OIF ministerial conference in Kigali, several member states expressed their wish to see Louise Mushikiwabo run for a third term,” Nduhungirehe said in January. “This recognition represents a strong political signal, which Rwanda has taken into account. Since 2019, under her leadership, the OIF has embarked on a deep, structured, and coherent transformation that has strengthened its political credibility, institutional clarity, and operational effectiveness. We are therefore fully confident in the success of this proposal.”
Despite opposition from Kinshasa and the intention of the DRC to field a rival candidate, Mushikiwabo remains confident.
“Honestly, I think this competition is good for the OIF. It shows the dynamism of our organization, its attractiveness. I am personally very serene regarding this candidacy and this election,” she said.
She described the upcoming vote at the Phnom Penh summit as an opportunity to demonstrate the organization’s vitality, even in the face of competition.
With her accomplishments and Rwanda’s backing, Mushikiwabo is positioning herself not only to secure a historic third term but also to expand the influence of the Francophonie, strengthen multilateral cooperation, and continue reforms that have shaped the organization over the past five years.
The disclosure was made during the launch of TI Rwanda’s annual CPI in Kigali on February 10, 2026.
The report assesses 182 countries and territories based on expert perceptions and data from multiple international sources, scoring them on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). Rwanda’s 2025 score rose to 58, up from 57 in 2024, when it ranked 43rd.
In Africa, Rwanda tied for third place with Botswana at 58, behind Cape Verde (62) and Seychelles (68), the regional leader. Rwanda maintained its top spot in East Africa, well ahead of Tanzania (40, ranked 84th globally), Kenya (30, 130th), and Uganda (25, 148th).
Several neighboring countries fared worse: the Democratic Republic of Congo scored 20 (163rd) and Burundi 17 (167th). At the global bottom were nations like Venezuela, South Sudan, and Somalia, all below 10.
Denmark topped the 2025 index with 89, followed by Finland (88) and Singapore (84).
While Rwanda’s performance stands out regionally and contributes to a broader positive trend, Sub-Saharan Africa continues to struggle, posting a regional average of just 32, far below Europe’s 64.
Rwanda’s gains reflect progress in areas such as the rule of law, governance, and environmental safeguards, as measured by sources including the World Bank and World Economic Forum.
Over the past five years, the country has shown steady improvement; from 52nd place and a score of 53 in 2020, it rose gradually, despite a temporary setback during the COVID-19 period, when the score dipped to 51 and the ranking fell to 54th, before reaching its current standing.
Appolinaire Mupiganyi, Executive Director of TI Rwanda, attributed the results to the country’s strong institutional framework and sustained political commitment to combating corruption.
He emphasized that robust institutions and determined leadership are vital for success and stressed the need for further action in specific areas, particularly addressing sexual corruption.
The president made the pledge as he met residents of Musanze and Nyabihu district at the stadium of the University of Rwanda College of Agriculture, Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, (UR-CAVM) in Busogo as part of ongoing citizen outreach program.
“My commitment to you is to hold accountable those who are not delivering. Next time I visit, you can hold me accountable for it,” said Kagame.
As he arrived at the meeting place, President Kagame held exclusive discussions with leaders before greeting thousands of residents convened in Busoga to welcome him.
He later told them that asbestos roofing sheets covering roofs of UR-CAVM buildings was among issues discussed.
“The first people who are responsible are leaders, it does not absolve citizens from their role in solving their problems but solutions start with leaders. All have been mentioned. Let me start with the issue of the buildings covered with asbestos roofing sheets. We took the decision ten years ago. That is why I summoned leaders to discuss because it is the first thing appearing when you get here,” he said.
Kagame highlighted that reasons for some issues are attributed to the budget problems even those who forgot the situation noting that it is a matter of mindsets.
“The issues we are discussing here are not new and they are not insurmountable. We discuss them, we agree on how they will be solved but when you come back you find the problem has not been solved or has gotten worse.
The issues of hygiene and malnutrition have been also talked about for many years. Solving the issue of cleanliness and malnutrition does not require us to wait for outside help. It is a question of mindset,” he said.
During the interactive session, citizens raised concerns on the poor performance of milk collection centers, problems of seeds shortage, and areas in need of electricity among others.
President Kagame promised a solution but requested them to combine efforts and play an active role in development activities.
The project is much anticipated between both countries especially for Rwanda as a landlocked nation.
The railway on Rwandan side will follow the lowland through Ngoma, Kirehe, Bugesera and Kicukuro districts.
On Tuesday this week, Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye the Minister of State in charge of Transport in the Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA) requested parliamentarians to pass the draft law approving agreements between Rwanda and Tanzania concerning the implementation of the railway project ‘Isaka-Kigali’ signed in Kigali on 09 March 2018.
Uwihanganye explained that the project will greatly contribute to Rwanda’s development when completed.
He revealed that Rwanda has already designed the master plan waiting for approval.
“Rwanda has already made the master plan to be approved by the cabinet meeting in May this year. As you know, Rwanda promotes private investors. That is why we feel the Isaka-Kigali railway project should be executed under public –private partnerships. On the other hand, Tanzania seeks to get financing from the government only. This is how the situation is,” said Uwihanganye.
The 532 km railway will pass through Rusumo border to Kigali city. There will be an extra part of the railway leading to Bugesera International Airport.
The railway on the side of Rwanda will be 138 km with the rest of 394 being on Tanzania side.
It is estimated to cost USD $3.6 billion on completion. Tanzania shall meet USD $ 2.3 billion while USD $ 1.3 billion is required on Rwanda side.
Minister Uwihanganye said there should be no assumptions to have fixed everything by next year because Rwanda and Tanzania have not yet agreed on the source of funds.
“It was realized that it would be hard for the government to opt for loans. It is clear how difficult it is obtaining a loan of USD $ 3.6 billion or USD $ 1.3 billion on the side of Rwanda unless other activities are halted. What is possible is to bring in private investors to reduce the debt burden for the country. This is what we are still discussing to reach consensus,” he explained.
Uwihanganye explained that the implementation of the project will reduce transport costs by 40% hence positively impacting on Rwanda’s imports and exports.
President Kagame who was delivering a talk at Milken Global Conference on “Global Overview: Measuring the Winds of Change” panel moderated by The New York Times writer, Nicholas Kristof explained that the question should be what Africa has been doing with this debt.
Other participants that featured on the same panel include the CEO of Wilson Center, Jane Harman; the Director of China Strategy, Michael Pillsbury and former UK minister Lord Peter Mandelson.
Commenting on China involvement in Africa, President Kagame said; “Africa has its own needs and interests whether you want to see it that way or not.”
The competition between the USA and the industrialized world with China finds Africa caught between China and the West. The USA said that its military and security operations in Africa are hampered by China dominance on the African continent.
“Africa has not had debt from China only. Debt forgiveness was there because there was debt. The question is what Africa has been doing with this debt. Saying we are worried Africa will be trapped in debt with China, sounds like concern for Africa by outsiders rather than Africa being concerned for its own wellbeing,” said Kagame.
President Kagame also talked on the claim that China is sponsoring corruption in Africa. He highlighted that the assumption is that corruption is confined to China and Africa and that the west does not get involved in corruption, which is not true.
He said that nobody should give an excuse for corruption but should be fought wherever it comes from that ‘it is what we have been trying to do in our countries and in other African countries”
“Africa, my own country, look to the west as partners of choice, or investors of choice in Africa. If the west was doing investments that are required in Africa the way they should be, then Africa will stop being caught in this trap or competition,” highlighted Kagame.
He emphasized that Africa needs to get its act together and be a place that can raise its stakes higher than where it is and as much as possible to be one of the players on the global scene instead of being caught up in power games seen across the world.
This saw an increase of Rwf 291.7 billion (11%) compared to the previous year.
The minister presented the draft yesterday to both chambers of Parliament as he presented the Budget Framework Paper (BFP) and the midterm budget estimated for 2019/20-2021/22.
Minister Ndagijimana noted that the budget for the fiscal year 2019/20 will reflect the medium-term fiscal path which allows for increased spending to reach the NST1 goals while maintaining public debt at sustainable levels.
In this regard, the budget envelope is projected to increase from Rwf 2,585.2 billion in the revised budget for Financial Year 2018/19 to FRW 2,876.9 billion, in Financial Year 2019/2020 an increase of FRW 291.7 billion and to reach to more than 3,560.5 billion in FY 2021/22.
The proposed total resources estimated for fiscal year 2019/20 is made up of Rwf 1,726.2 billion of domestic tax and non-tax revenue, domestic borrowing of Rwf 237.6 billion, Rwf 6.4 billion from net lending and payments, external grants of Rwf 409.8 billion and external loans of Rwf 497 billion.
Total tax revenue collections have been projected to reach Rwf 1,535.8 billion in the fiscal year 2019/20. This amount will exceed the estimated figure of Rwf 1,373.1 billion to be achieved in the fiscal year 2018/19 by Rwf 162.7 billion while Non-tax revenue collections to the Treasury have been estimated at Rwf 190.4 billion; which is 7.9 billion Rwf lower than the projected amount of Rwf 198.4 billion in the fiscal year 2018/19.
Total expenditures in the fiscal year 2019/20 is projected at Rwf 2,876.9 billion, made up of recurrent expenditure of Rwf 1,424.5 billion, Development expenditures of Rwf 1,152.1 billion, net lending outlays of Rwf 244.1 billion, repayment of arrears amounting to Rwf 30.6 billion and accumulation of deposits of Rwf 25.5 billion.
The resources allocation for 2019/2020 and in the medium term was guided by the strategic objectives to achieve the transformational goals of NST 1 set out in the three pillars namely: Economic Transformation, Social Transformation, and Transformational Governance. The key interventions and projects under NST 1 pillars have been funded as follows:
The Budget Framework paper will provide the basis for the preparation of the 2019-20 budget which will be read in June 2019.
BFP is a document outlining government economic policies over the medium term that helps lay the foundations of the next fiscal budget. It is prepared in accordance with article 32 of the Organic Law on State Property and Finances and outlines the Government’s macroeconomic and fiscal policy stance as well as the budget policy over a 3-year horizon.
Outlining key priorities for 2019/20 fiscal year and the medium term Minister Ndagijimana told Parliamentarians that policies and strategies over the medium term are built on the Government’s ambition to raise Rwandans high living standards and reach the upper middle-income status by 2035 and high income by 2050.
This is reflected in the blueprint of the Vision 2050 under development. The National Strategy for Transformation (NST1), which has been developed as implementation instrument of the remainder of Vision 2020 and for the first four years of the Vision 2050, provides the direction of the policy objectives over the medium term.
Minister Ndagijimana noted that government will continue to promote import substitution and diversify exports with the aim of reducing the exposure to external shocks and imbalances over the medium term.
“The implementation of Made in Rwanda policy will continue to play a key role in narrowing the current account deficit in the short to the long run and help to consolidate private sector domestic activities, create jobs and boost economic growth,” Minister Ndagijimana said.
Key targets and interventions will include growing traditional exports, promoting nontraditional exports, growth of the service sector as well as cross-cutting interventions such as the promotion of made in Rwanda, developing of cross border and trade logistics infrastructure and development of industrial parks among others.
The new cooperation program worth 120 million Euros will cover the period 2019-2024 and intervene mainly in three sectors: Health (€45.000.000), Agriculture (€30.000.000) and Urbanization (€28.000.000).
The program will concentrate on better access to sexual and reproductive rights and health.
In addition, attention will be devoted to the improvement of value chains in agriculture, the commercialization of agricultural products and sustainable urbanization; public finance management is the fourth priority.
With regard to health and agriculture, the program will be piloting a new aid instrument: Results-Based Aid (RBA). In RBA the donor contribution is released to MINECOFIN after verifying that the agreed sectorial targets have been achieved.
Speaking after the signing event, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Dr. Uzziel Ndagijimana hailed the contribution of the bilateral to achieving Rwanda’s sustainable development objectives.
“The Government of Rwanda regards health, agriculture, and urbanization as critical sectors that have a significant impact on Rwanda’s development outcomes as articulated in our National Strategy for Transformation. Therefore, Belgian support in these sectors is a step forward in realizing the targeted achievements,” Minister Ndagijimana said.
The Ambassador of Belgium in Rwanda, Benoit Ryelandt said the signing of this agreement is a sign of the special relations between the two countries.
“This country program is the result of a year of intensive preparations and discussions between Belgium and Rwanda, to define the priority sectors and the objectives, aspired results, and implementation modalities in each sector. The specific agreement signed today gives also the start to the first bilateral program between our two countries, were no longer any tax exemptions are requested,” he said.
“This commitment not to request tax exonerations is in line with the ambition to support improved local revenue collection and underlines the importance of the support the program includes to the further development of the Public Finance Management (PFM) in Rwanda through the PFM multi-donor fund,” affirmed Benoit.
The program was developed by the Belgian Development Agency, Enabel in close collaboration with different Rwandan ministries.
Implementation will be assured mainly through Rwandan government institutions in coordination with Enabel.
The funding follows the previous one worth 160 million Euros which Belgium gave to Rwanda in 2011. It was used in health, energy, and agriculture among other sectors.
He made the call yesterday as he co-chaired the Annual Broadband Commission meeting hosted by Facebook at their Headquarters in San Francisco city of California State.
The meeting was also attended by International Telecommunication Union (ITU) ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao and the Vice-President for Mobile and Global Access Policy at Facebook, Kevin Martin.
President Kagame said the sessions go straight to the heart of our priorities of the Broadband Commission and highlighted, in particular, the issue of harmful content.
He revealed that the session will hear an important report from the working group on child safety online and consider the creation of a new working group, led by The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), focused on hate speech and disinformation.
“Large-scale violence is always preceded by a process of dehumanization, through the spread of ideas that justify killing. We had a situation like this in my country 25 years ago. That is why we work to ensure that ideologies of hatred and division have no place in our public domain,” he said.
President Kagame said that there was no internet in Rwanda in 1994 that radicalization is therefore not a new phenomenon, much less a by-product of modern social media.
He noted that while the challenges of today are not qualitatively different, technology has indeed changed the landscape in two important ways. The first is speed where the internet is an accelerant costing very little to reach a lot of people very quickly. The second is the absence of accountability.
“Individuals, who cause harm, can do so anonymously. It should properly be regarded as a form of cyber-crime. We do not need special rules and regulations for the virtual world. Nor is there any valid reason to constrain basic freedoms, or limit access to broadband. That would only slow development, and further deepen global inequalities,” he said.
“We simply need the means to enforce our laws, and hold individuals accountable for what they do online, just as we do offline,” added Kagame.
He said that access to broadband and infrastructure should go hand in hand. Noting that a lot is being done to move towards the goal of universal access to broadband by 2030.
President Kagame also met with Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg on the sidelines of Broadband Commission meeting for sustainable development held at Facebook headquarters.
The Broadband Commission was set up in 2010 to boost the role of technology in international budget planning and promoting broadband in all countries.
The previous meeting was held in September 2018 in New York.
