In a public notice issued on Monday, July 27, RDB announced that it had begun operating from its new premises on KN 69 Street, opposite St. Michael Cathedral, with all services now available from the new location.
“Effective 27 July 2026, the RDB office has relocated to new premises,” the agency said, noting that the move applies to the public, development partners, investors and the wider business community.
RDB said all of its services will now be provided from the new offices, while the One Stop Centre, which offers a range of government and business services to investors, will operate from the ground floor of the building.
The agency added that its digital platforms remain fully operational, allowing clients to continue accessing online services and information without interruption. Customer support teams will also remain available to assist stakeholders during the transition.
RDB said details on the relocation of its subsidiaries, the Rwanda Convention Bureau (RCB) and the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB), will be communicated at a later date.
The move follows the temporary closure of the RDB Building in Gishushu on May 5, 2026, to pave the way for planned renovation and upgrade works.
At the time, RDB relocated its One Stop Centre services to the Ministry of Infrastructure offices in Kimihurura, while other services continued to be offered through the institution’s digital platforms.
The 12-storey Gishushu building, which also housed the Rwanda Housing Authority (RHA), had become the subject of scrutiny after assessments identified structural and construction-related defects.
RDB had long operated from this building in Gishushu before it was closed in May to allow renovations aimed at addressing structural defects.
The call was made on Saturday by the Chairperson of the Rwandan Community in Kenya (RCK), Dr. Innocent Butare, during a meeting with members of the community in Nyeri County following a quarter-final match of the ongoing RCK Imena Cup 2026 football tournament.
The meeting was attended by Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Kenya, Ambassador Ernest Rwamucyo, diplomats from the Rwandan High Commission, members of the RCK Committee, and 200 members of the Rwandan community from Nyeri, Embu, and Meru counties.
Earlier, Ambassador Rwamucyo, accompanied by diplomats from the High Commission and members of the RCK Committee, watched the quarter-final match between Elite FC and Vision de la Jeunesse FC. The tournament brings together Rwandan teams from across Kenya.
Vision de la Jeunesse FC of Embu County secured a place in the semi-finals, which will be held in Nairobi this October.
Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Rwamucyo congratulated Vision de la Jeunesse FC on reaching the semi-finals. He also highlighted the consular services offered by the High Commission and national development programmes that members of the community can participate in.
The High Commissioner encouraged Rwandans living in Kenya to continue upholding Rwandan values and to preserve the strong bilateral relations between Rwanda and Kenya by respecting the laws of their host country.
Dr. Butare urged the community to continue upholding the values of unity and social cohesion, which he said are key to fostering a strong, connected, and resilient RCK.
He also encouraged Rwandans living in Kenya to save through savings groups and urged those who are able to invest in investment schemes established by the Government of Rwanda, including Ejo Heza and the RNIT Iterambere Fund.
Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Kenya, Ambassador Ernest Rwamucyo, addresses members of the Rwandan community in Nyeri County following a quarter-final match of the RCK Imena Cup 2026.The RCK Imena Cup 2026 brings together Rwandan teams from across Kenya, strengthening connections among members of the Rwandan community.Rwandan Community in Kenya Chairperson Dr. Innocent Butare urged members to uphold the values of unity and social cohesion during a community meeting in Nyeri County.Members of the Rwandan community in Kenya gathered in Nyeri County for a meeting with Ambassador Ernest Rwamucyo and RCK Chairperson Dr. Innocent Butare.
The DRC government has been lobbying African and European partners with a proposal that would see the FDLR dismantled through a political process rather than military action.
Rwanda and political analysts argue that the initiative is a diversionary tactic that fails to address what they describe as the root cause of the threat posed by the group, its genocidal ideology.
Since July 13, 2026, the DRC’s Minister for Regional Integration, Floribert Anzuluni Isiloketshi, has visited Uganda, Togo, Burundi, Tanzania, Belgium, France and South Africa, in addition to holding meetings at the European Union headquarters in Brussels.
Although the tour was officially presented as consultations on the security situation in eastern DRC, reports indicate that President Félix Tshisekedi’s envoys were also carrying a proposal aimed at persuading international partners to support Kinshasa’s new approach to addressing the FDLR issue.
According to Jeune Afrique, the Congolese government is seeking to convince regional and Western partners that it is making genuine efforts to dismantle the FDLR, even as it faces mounting pressure over what critics say is its failure to implement obligations under the Washington Peace Agreement.
That diplomatic push intensified after Washington publicly raised concerns over the pace of implementation. On June 27, U.S. President Donald Trump’s Senior Advisor for Africa, Massad Boulos, told the United Nations Security Council that the DRC had failed to fulfill its commitment to dismantle the FDLR.
On July 13, Minister Anzuluni and his delegation were received in Uganda.
FDLR proposes voluntary disbandment
During his diplomatic tour, Minister Anzuluni presented a document outlining what Kinshasa describes as a new framework for the voluntary disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of FDLR fighters.
Signed by Victor Byiringiro, a senior political figure within the FDLR, the document proposes the group’s voluntary disarmament and self-dissolution following an awareness campaign conducted by the Congolese government.
The proposal, submitted by Byiringiro to President Tshisekedi on May 30, 2026, argues that dismantling the FDLR should be achieved through political engagement rather than military operations. It further proposes that FDLR combatants be housed in a secure, protected facility where they would not be subjected to military attacks.
Byiringiro also argues that FDLR members should not be forcibly repatriated to Rwanda. Instead, those unwilling to return should be assisted in resettling in third countries together with their families currently living in the DRC.
FDLR political leader Victor Byiringiro drafted the proposal for the group’s dissolution and sent it to President Félix Tshisekedi.
Kinshasa has presented the proposal as a major step forward, arguing that it removes what it describes as Rwanda’s justification for supporting the AFC/M23 coalition. Rwanda, however, rejects that characterization, insisting that the AFC/M23 movement is a Congolese rebel group whose members are fighting against marginalization and exclusion within the DRC.
Rwanda has rejected the proposal, describing it as an attempt to circumvent the Washington Peace Agreement, which requires the DRC to dismantle the FDLR following the agreement signed on June 27, 2025.
According to Belgium’s La Libre, Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Olivier Nduhungirehe, dismissed the proposal as an effort to distract from the agreement’s core obligations.
“We remain committed to the agreement we signed. Any attempt to introduce additional elements aimed at portraying the FDLR as a party to the agreement is unacceptable. Such efforts are intended to undermine the document signed in Washington,” Nduhungirehe said.
He added: “The Washington Agreement is a sound document. If all its provisions are implemented, we would have genuine hope for lasting peace and development in the Great Lakes region.”
Analysts question the proposal
Political analysts say this is not the first time the FDLR has proposed voluntarily dissolving itself, arguing that similar initiatives in the past failed to produce meaningful results.
Professor Bob Kabamba, a political scientist at the University of Liège in Belgium, said the proposal was unlikely to succeed.
“This is not the first time such an initiative has emerged. One has to examine the history of the FDLR to understand the nature of this issue,” he said.
Kabamba noted that in July 2000, then-DRC President Laurent-Désiré Kabila oversaw the dissolution of the ALiR rebel movement before the FDLR later emerged.
He argued that even if the FDLR were formally dissolved under the current proposal, another armed group with the same ideology and objectives could emerge.
“The new plan allows the FDLR to dissolve itself. That is difficult to understand, and Kigali will not accept it because it has not forgotten ALiR and the subsequent creation of the FDLR, which it says continues to receive support from Kinshasa. Based on this proposal, history could repeat itself, with another armed group emerging after the FDLR’s dissolution.”
Since early 2026, Tshisekedi has also reportedly considered the renaming of the FDLR in what analysts describe as an attempt to improve its international image. Under the reported proposal, the group would become the Front Commun pour la Libération Rwandaise (FCLR) while retaining its ideology and military structure.
Ideology remains the central concern
Both Nduhungirehe and Kabamba argue that the principal concern surrounding the FDLR is not simply the number of fighters it commands but the genocidal ideology embraced by its leadership and members.
“This issue goes far beyond the number of FDLR fighters,” Kabamba said. “Today they number only around 2,000 to 3,000, which is insufficient to militarily threaten the Rwandan state. The real concern is the extremist ideology that continues to target a particular ethnic group with the objective of extermination while promoting violence. This proposal addresses none of that.”
According to the latest report by the UN Group of Experts, published in late June 2026, the FDLR claims to have more than 10,000 fighters, about half of whom are permanent combatants. Its elite military wing, known as CRAP, claims to have 20,000 fighters.
Meanwhile, beyond Minister Anzuluni’s diplomatic campaign, the DRC government continues military preparations in North and South Kivu provinces. Although the Congolese army announced in late March 2026 that it would dismantle the FDLR, Rwanda says that commitment was never implemented and that, two days later, the group instead received additional weapons from the Congolese military to continue supporting government forces.
Rwanda has continued to present evidence of cooperation between the DRC government and the FDLR. Kinshasa, however, maintains that its contacts with the armed group are intended solely to persuade it to lay down its arms, a claim disputed by Rwanda.
Minister Anzuluni and his delegation were received by Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.On July 15, 2026, Burundi’s President Évariste Ndayishimiye received Minister Anzuluni, who presented him with the FDLR proposal. On July 15, Minister Anzuluni was received by Togo’s President of the Council of Ministers, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé. Minister Anzuluni presented the proposal to Ndayishimiye, a close ally of the DRC who currently serves as the Chairperson of the African Union (AU).
On July 19, Minister Anzuluni was received by Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan.On July 20, Minister Anzuluni was received by Belgium’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Maxime Prévot.
On July 22, Minister Anzuluni met with the French President’s Advisor for Africa.
On July 23, Minister Anzuluni met with Johan Borgstam, the European Union Special Representative for the Great Lakes Region, in Brussels and presented him with the proposal.On July 24, Minister Anzuluni met with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The Ugandan government formally submitted Otunnu’s candidature to the United Nations on Saturday, presenting him as a veteran diplomat and international civil servant with more than four decades of experience in global affairs.
Otunnu, 75, previously served as the UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict from 1997 to 2005 under former Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
During his tenure, he helped elevate the protection of children affected by armed conflicts on the UN agenda and contributed to the creation of mechanisms aimed at monitoring violations against children in war zones.
Before joining the UN leadership, Otunnu served as Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 1980 to 1985 and briefly held the position of Foreign Affairs Minister between 1985 and 1986.
Otunnu served as Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 1980 to 1985 and became President of the UN Security Council in December 1981. During that period, he played a key role in resolving a deadlock over the selection of the UN Secretary-General by introducing a straw-balloting procedure that helped identify Javier Pérez de Cuéllar as a consensus candidate.
At the national political level, Otunnu led the opposition Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) and contested Uganda’s 2011 presidential election, where he lost to President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power since 1986.
Beyond government and UN roles, Otunnu served as President of the International Peace Academy, now known as the International Peace Institute, from 1990 to 1998. He has also held academic positions at institutions including Albany Law School and the American University in Paris.
His nomination adds him to a field that includes Chile’s Michelle Bachelet, Ecuador’s Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Argentina’s Rafael Grossi, Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan, Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett and Senegal’s Macky Sall.
The candidates took part in a televised debate on Thursday as they presented their visions for leading the United Nations.
The UN Security Council is expected to hold its first closed-door, anonymous vote on the candidates on July 30. The process will continue through additional rounds of voting until a candidate secures the required nine votes from the 15-member council without opposition from any of the five permanent members: the United States, United Kingdom, China, France and Russia.
The selected candidate will then be presented to the UN General Assembly for formal appointment and will assume office on January 1, 2027.
The UN Security Council is expected to hold its first closed-door, anonymous vote on the candidates on July 30.
The moment was shared by veteran Ugandan journalist Andrew Mwenda, who was present during the game.
In a post on X on Sunday, July 26, 2026, Mwenda said he enjoyed playing basketball alongside President Kagame and Gen Muhoozi, while joking about his performance on the court.
“Playing basketball with the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame and the CDF of Uganda, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba. The messes [sic] I made would win me a sport in the Guinness Book of World Records as most disastrous player of all time,” he wrote.
Gen Muhoozi arrived in Kigali on Saturday, July 25, 2026, for a working visit that included discussions with Rwanda’s senior military leadership and a meeting with President Kagame.
According to a statement released by the Office of the President late Saturday, the meeting centred on strengthening bilateral cooperation between Rwanda and Uganda, as well as regional peace, security and stability.
This marks Gen Muhoozi’s first visit to Rwanda since March 2025, when he held discussions with senior RDF commanders on bilateral military cooperation.
During that visit, he also toured the Rwanda Defence Force Command and Staff College in Nyakinama of Musanze District, where he delivered a lecture on the role of African countries in promoting peace and security across the continent.
President Paul Kagame and Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, took time off official engagements to play basketball during the Ugandan military chief’s working visit to Rwanda.President Kagame sets up for a shot at the basket. Gen Muhoozi takes aim at the hoop.
That was the central message at Leading in the Age of AI, an executive breakfast hosted by ALX Enterprise at Norrsken Kigali on Friday, where CEOs, senior executives, HR professionals and business leaders gathered to examine how AI is reshaping organisations beyond automation. Rather than focusing on software or technical demonstrations, the event challenged leaders to rethink the future of work itself through practical discussions and an immersive simulation that mirrored the disruptions AI is already creating across industries.
For many organisations, the question is no longer whether AI will transform business operations, but whether leadership teams are prepared to guide their companies through the transition.
Leadership in an era of constant disruption
Delivering the keynote address, Minister of State for ICT and Innovation Yves Iradukunda said leadership has become significantly more complex because AI technologies evolve at a pace that makes yesterday’s assumptions obsolete almost overnight.
Minister of State for ICT and Innovation Yves Iradukunda delivered a keynote address at the event.
He noted that executives today must make decisions in an environment where new AI models and tools are constantly changing how businesses operate, requiring organizations to rethink not only technology adoption but also governance, regulation and workforce development.
“The companies that are going to succeed are not the ones that have adopted these AI tools first,” Iradukunda said.
“I believe they are the ones that will be able to deploy these tools to generate the highest impact, but also do it responsibly and equitably.”
According to the minister, responsible AI adoption extends beyond purchasing new software. It requires businesses to think carefully about data governance, ethics, workforce readiness and long-term competitiveness.
He also emphasised that organisations cannot rely indefinitely on imported AI technologies, arguing that Rwanda is investing in local capabilities through a National AI Agency, AI-ready infrastructure, stronger data governance frameworks and expanded talent development to help businesses innovate responsibly.
Attendees follow a highly engaging session at Norrsken Kigali on Friday, July 24, 2026.
Workforce training becomes a business strategy
Perhaps the biggest shift highlighted throughout the discussions was the changing role of workforce development.
Instead of treating employee training as a human resources function, speakers argued that continuous learning is becoming essential for business survival.
“The team you have today, the team that has gotten you here as a corporate, is not the team that is going to take you to the next level if you are not constantly training and building their capacity,” Iradukunda said.
ALX Africa Regional Director Nimie Chaylone echoed the same message, urging organisations to stop viewing upskilling as something employees do away from work.
“If you find someone who is a culture fit and they have skills, but their skills are becoming obsolete, how can we make sure that you are not losing them but literally keeping them while upskilling them?” she asked.
ALX Africa Regional Director Nimie Chaylone urged organizations to embed upskilling into the workplace.
She argued that organisations face growing challenges recruiting employees with both the right technical capabilities and cultural fit. Rather than repeatedly replacing workers whose skills become outdated, companies should focus on continuously developing existing talent while employees remain in their roles.
That philosophy underpins ALX Enterprise’s approach of working directly with businesses to design customised AI and leadership training programs tailored to their operational needs rather than offering generic courses.
AI is changing the role of managers
The discussions also highlighted a shift that is often overlooked in conversations about artificial intelligence.
While much attention focuses on software developers and data scientists, speakers argued that middle managers may ultimately determine whether AI investments succeed.
According to ALX Enterprise, AI is changing where value is created inside organisations, making managers responsible for translating new technologies into measurable business outcomes. Workforce training, therefore, is no longer simply an employee benefit but a business continuity strategy.
Chaylone added that leadership itself must evolve.
Managers must understand not only AI tools, but also AI ethics, cybersecurity risks, data privacy and organisational change management.
Managers were challenged to ensure new technologies deliver measurable business impact.
She warned that many employees are already using generative AI applications in ways that could expose sensitive company information, making leadership awareness just as important as technical capability.
Learning through experience
Instead of relying on keynote speeches alone, organisers placed executives inside an interactive simulation called The Future of Work Marketplace.
Participants assumed the roles of CEOs, hiring managers, employees, training providers and market forces, navigating rounds of AI-driven disruption involving automation, changing salaries, evolving client expectations and shifting workforce demands.
The exercise concluded with each group presenting a 90-day strategy for how their organization should respond to the challenges they had experienced.
Kwame Norvixoxo, Research Lead at the World Bank and facilitator of the simulation, said the exercise was intentionally designed to move away from traditional conferences where participants passively listen to presentations.
Instead, leaders were encouraged to experience the uncertainty organisations now face and collectively reflect on practical responses.
He said the exercise also provides an opportunity for businesses and training institutions to better understand future workforce needs and collaborate on closing emerging skills gaps.
Kwame Norvixoxo, Research Lead at the World Bank, facilitated the simulation.
Business leaders see AI as unavoidable
Participants from different sectors agreed that AI adoption is no longer optional.
Brian Sørensen, who leads Vertland Africa, said AI has become a strategic priority across his organisation because it enables businesses to become more efficient while delivering faster services.
“We know that this is a must-have,” he said, noting that continuous upskilling has become central to the company’s growth strategy.
Wilson Muhirwa, Managing Director of Shift Africa, said organisations that delay adopting AI risk falling behind.
“The only thing we have to do is to make sure that we adopt, we learn, we unlearn where necessary, and adapt to the new technologies,” he said.
He encouraged business leaders to build organisational cultures that embrace experimentation and continuous learning rather than fearing technological change.
Wilson Muhirwa, Managing Director of Shift Africa, said organisations that delay adopting AI risk falling behind.
Laura Gotti, Communications Manager at Rwanda Men’s Resource Centre (RWAMREC), said AI adoption should begin with educating employees and strengthening governance around data protection.
For her organisation, one immediate takeaway was the need to develop an AI policy aligned with existing data protection frameworks before expanding AI use.
Raissa Mahoro, Healthcare Solutions Manager at Sand Technologies, argued that leaders should first identify operational challenges where AI can create value before investing in workforce capability, to ensure employees can use new technologies effectively and responsibly.
Raissa Mahoro, Healthcare Solutions Manager at Sand Technologies, speaking at the ALX Enterprise AI leadership breakfast in Kigali.
Leadership, not technology, will determine success
Across every session, one conclusion consistently emerged: the future of work is becoming less about technology itself and more about leadership.
AI may automate routine tasks, improve decision-making and accelerate productivity, but organisations will only realise those benefits if leaders create cultures that encourage learning, build workforce capability and adapt business strategies to an increasingly AI-driven economy.
For today’s CEOs, the challenge is no longer deciding whether AI matters. It is deciding whether their people, their managers and ultimately their leadership are prepared for what comes next.
ALX Enterprise is the corporate training arm of ALX, a pan-African talent and skills organisation that has trained hundreds of thousands of learners across the continent in software engineering, data science, cloud computing and AI. Building on that track record, ALX Enterprise partners directly with companies and their leadership teams to close AI and data capability gaps, redesign workflows around new tools, and build the manager and executive capability needed to lead through disruption grounded in practical, Africa-relevant training rather than theory alone.
The executive breakfast hosted by ALX Enterprise at Norrsken Kigali on Friday brought together CEOs, senior executives, HR professionals, and business leaders. Minister of State for ICT and Innovation Yves Iradukunda told the business leaders that responsible AI adoption extends beyond purchasing new software.ALX Africa Regional Director Nimie Chaylone speaks during the “Leading in the Age of AI” executive breakfast at Norrsken Kigali.ALX Africa Regional Director Nimie Chaylone urged organizations to embed upskilling into the workplace.Brian Sørensen, who leads Vertland Africa, said AI has become a strategic priority across his organisation because it enables businesses to become more efficient while delivering faster services.Laura Gotti, Communications Manager at RWAMREC, says AI adoption should begin with educating employees and strengthening data governance. The event challenged leaders to rethink the future of work itself through practical discussions and an immersive simulation that mirrored the disruptions AI is already creating across industries.The event challenged leaders to rethink the future of work itself through practical discussions.Guests toured Sand Technologies at Norrsken, where the company demonstrated its services.
According to the Office of the President, the meeting centred on the strong relationship between the two neighbouring countries and efforts to promote lasting peace and stability across the region.
“President Kagame today received General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Chief of Defence Forces of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). Their discussions focused on the strong bilateral cooperation between Rwanda and Uganda, as well as regional peace, security, and stability,” the Presidency said in a statement late Saturday.
The meeting forms part of Gen Muhoozi’s two-day working visit to Rwanda aimed at further enhancing defence cooperation between the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) and the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF).
Gen Muhoozi arrived in Kigali earlier on Saturday and was received at Kigali International Airport by the Chief of Defence Staff of the Rwanda Defence Force, Gen Mubarakh Muganga.
He was also welcomed by Maj Gen Willy Rwagasana, Commander of the RDF Republican Guard, and Col Ezekiel Matsiko, Uganda’s Defence Attaché to Rwanda.
During the visit, Gen Muhoozi held discussions with senior RDF officials on strengthening military cooperation between the two countries.
The visit marks Gen Muhoozi’s first trip to Rwanda since March 2025, when he met senior RDF commanders to discuss bilateral military cooperation. During that visit, he also toured the Rwanda Defence Force Command and Staff College in Nyakinama, Musanze District, where he delivered a lecture on the role of African countries in promoting peace and security across the continent.
Gen Muhoozi’s latest visit comes as Rwanda and Uganda continue efforts to deepen defence collaboration and maintain close engagement on issues affecting peace and security in the region.
According to the Office of the President, the meeting centered on the strong relationship between the two neighbouring countries and efforts to promote lasting peace and stability across the region.The meeting forms part of Gen Muhoozi’s two-day working visit to Rwanda.
What began as a simple promise to ensure no patient went hungry while receiving treatment has grown into one of Rwanda’s largest nutrition initiatives, serving millions of meals to patients and schoolchildren across the country.
The milestone celebration brought together First Lady Jeannette Kagame, government officials, development partners, beneficiaries, volunteers and supporters to reflect on the organisation’s achievements and outline an ambitious vision for the future.
Opening the event, Solid’Africa Chief Executive Officer Nassir Katuramu traced the organisation’s origins to the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK), where founder Isabelle Kamariza, together with Mama Zouzou and Ariane Inkesha, began providing meals to patients who had no family to feed them.
“They began with five patients, serving porridge, bread, milk and meals cooked in family kitchens,” Katuramu said. “Five patients and a simple promise that they would never go another day without a meal.”
Solid’Africa CEO Nassir Katuramu revealed that the organisation has delivered more than 12 million meals since its launch in 2010.
Over the years, that promise evolved into a nationwide nutrition programme supported by volunteers, partners and the Government of Rwanda.
According to Katuramu, the organisation has now delivered more than 12 million meals. In 2025 alone, it served 3.2 million meals, supported approximately 130,000 patients and caregivers across six public hospitals, provided nutritious meals to 15,000 students every school day, and connected more than 7,000 smallholder farmers to structured markets through its Farm-to-Plate model.
He noted that Solid’Africa has continued expanding in 2026, with its school feeding programme now reaching nearly 30,000 students across 11 public schools following the launch of its first centralised clean-energy school kitchen in Rwamagana. The organisation has also opened a new hospital kitchen in Remera Rukoma and plans another in Bugesera.
Katuramu said the organisation’s long-term ambition is to help build a national public nutrition system integrated into public institutions rather than remain dependent on charitable support.
Under its roadmap, Solid’Africa aims to reach 255,000 students across 160 schools by 2030 and have medically tailored meals embedded within Rwanda’s universal health coverage by 2035, reaching one million patients annually while creating stable markets for 50,000 smallholder farmers.
Addressing guests, First Lady and chair of Imbuto Foundation Jeannette Kagame, whose partnership with Solid’Africa since 2014 marked a turning point for the organisation, congratulated Solid’Africa on its 15-year journey, describing the initiative as an example of how compassion can evolve into lasting public service.
First Lady and chair of Imbuto Foundation Jeannette Kagame described Solid’Africa mission as an example of how compassion can evolve into lasting public service.
The initial partnership between the Imbuto Foundation and Solid’Africa focused on building Solid’Africa’s first Mike Stenbock Gemura Kitchen in Rusororo to provide daily nutritious meals to vulnerable patients in public hospitals.
The First Lady praised founder Isabelle Kamariza for responding to a simple but profound challenge: ensuring that no patient remains hungry while receiving medical care.
“What was pure altruism became a thoughtful answer to a quiet need,” the First Lady said, adding that Solid’Africa had transformed “an act of kindness into a service that restores dignity.” She pledged that Imbuto Foundation would continue supporting the organisation’s mission.
“Imbuto Foundation remains by your side as long as there are patients and children to feed, all of which are part and parcel of your mission. May Solid’Africa keep growing with the same energy, the same faith, and the same tenderness that carried you here,” the First Lady remarked.
“We are grateful for your contribution to Rwanda’s story. We believe the best is yet to come,” she added.
In her remarks, founder and president Isabelle Kamariza said the anniversary was ultimately a celebration of the people who chose to care.
“Solid’Africa was never built by one person,” she said. “It was built, and continues to be built, by people who choose to care.”
Kamariza thanked the Government of Rwanda, Imbuto Foundation, development partners, volunteers and supporters for helping transform a long-held dream of building modern nutrition infrastructure into reality.
Reflecting on the organisation’s growth, Kamariza said its success was driven not by extraordinary resources but by ordinary people making extraordinary choices.
“For many years, almost everything we built was sustained by people here in Rwanda, friends, families, volunteers and communities who gave whatever they could,” she said. “Every contribution mattered. Every person mattered.”
She also thanked the Government of Rwanda, Imbuto Foundation, development partners, volunteers and supporters for helping transform a long-held dream of building modern nutrition infrastructure into reality.
The evening also featured emotional testimonies from beneficiaries whose lives were transformed through Solid’Africa’s support.
Jean Bosco Ruzibiza, one of the organisation’s earliest beneficiaries, recounted how Mama Zouzou and Isabelle Kamariza supported him during his hospitalisation in 2010, paying medical bills, providing food and remaining by his side even after his recovery.
“What they did for me went far beyond providing assistance; they became my family,” he said. “Even after I was discharged, they never abandoned me. Solid’Africa continued to follow up on my wellbeing and remained by my side as I rebuilt my life.”
Jean Bosco Ruzibiza, one of the organisation’s earliest beneficiaries, gave a moving testimony.
Esperance Niyigena from Rubavu also shared how the organisation stood with her family after two of her sons suffered severe burn injuries, continuing to provide support during treatment in Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania.
“Unfortunately, we lost my four-month-old son, which was a very painful experience for our family. However, Solid’Africa continued supporting my five-year-old son, who was transferred to Kenya for further treatment. We spent six months there, and they continued helping us throughout the journey, including when we later sought treatment in Tanzania,” she narrated.
Esperance Niyigena shared how the organisation stood with her family after two of her sons suffered severe burn injuries.
Mama Tcha also shared her story, having received long-term support during her son’s treatment, alongside photographer Pascal Shyaka, who began volunteering for Solid’Africa after they supported his family through his brother’s illness.
“My elder brother passed away after three months,” Shyaka recalled tearfully. “It was a painful time, but Solid’Africa became like family to us. As a photographer, capturing their work was the least I could do to show my gratitude for everything they did for my family.”
The evening ended on a high note, with live music and a spirited crowd celebrating 15 years of impact. The room was filled with optimism, reflecting a journey that started with five simple meals in a hospital ward and grew into a movement that restores dignity to people in need, feeding thousands across Rwanda every day.
The gala was made possible through the generous support of Solid’Africa partners, including Kigali Marriott Hotel, GoGo Décor, Rwanda Events, Skol, Global Risk Advisors Ltd, BK Foundation, Go-Kabisa, 12 Degrés, Sezibera Construction, Eden Care, Secam, Intore Entertainment, Old Mutual, I&M Bank, Access Bank, Gear and Prime Insurance.
The milestone celebration brought together First Lady Jeannette Kagame, government officials, development partners, beneficiaries, volunteers and supporters .Solid’Africa CEO Nassir Katuramu said the organisation’s long-term ambition is to help build a national public nutrition system integrated into public institutions rather than remain dependent on charitable supportThe First Lady praised founder Isabelle Kamariza for responding to a simple but profound challenge: ensuring that no patient remains hungry while receiving medical care.Founder and president Isabelle Kamariza said the anniversary was ultimately a celebration of the people who chose to care.Kamariza thanked the Government of Rwanda, Imbuto Foundation, development partners, volunteers and supporters for helping transform a long-held dream of building modern nutrition infrastructure into reality.A live band kept guests entertained.
Gen Muhoozi was received at Kigali International Airport on Saturday, July 25, 2026, by the Chief of Defence Staff of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), Gen Mubarakh Muganga.
Also present to welcome him were Maj Gen Willy Rwagasana, Commander of the RDF’s Republican Guard, and Col Ezekiel Matsiko, Uganda’s Defence Attaché to Rwanda.
During the visit, Gen Muhoozi is expected to meet senior Rwanda Defence Force officials to discuss ways of further enhancing defence cooperation between Rwanda and Uganda. He is also scheduled to be received by President Paul Kagame.
This marks Gen Muhoozi’s first visit to Rwanda since March 2025, when he held discussions with senior RDF commanders on bilateral military cooperation.
During that visit, he also toured the Rwanda Defence Force Command and Staff College in Nyakinama of Musanze District, where he delivered a lecture on the role of African countries in promoting peace and security across the continent.
Maj Gen Willy Rwagasana, Commander of the RDF’s Republican Guard also welcomed Gen Muhoozi in Kigali. Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba was received by senior Rwanda Defence Force officials upon arrival in Rwanda.Rwanda Defence Force Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Mubarakh Muganga welcomed Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba in Kigali.Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba arrives at Kigali International Airport for a two-day visit to RwandaGen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba has arrived at Kigali International Airport for a two-day visit to Rwanda
According to BRD, 17,845 people have so far benefited from the programme, which was introduced to make homeownership more accessible for low- and middle-income earners through affordable mortgage financing.
The figures were revealed by Benitha Utuje, BRD’s Gira Iwawe Programme Implementation Officer, during a meeting organised by Copedu Plc that brought together women entrepreneurs, including both existing and prospective clients of the financial institution.
Launched in 2019 with support from the World Bank, the Gira Iwawe programme forms part of Rwanda’s broader strategy to increase access to affordable housing by enabling eligible citizens to purchase homes through long-term loans provided by participating financial institutions.
The programme offers two financing categories based on applicants’ monthly income.
Individuals earning less than Rwf1.2 million per month can access mortgage loans of up to Rwf40 million to purchase a home. The loans are repayable over a period of 20 years at an annual interest rate of 11%.
Meanwhile, those earning between Rwf1.2 million and Rwf1.5 million per month are eligible for loans to purchase homes valued between Rwf40 million and Rwf60 million, with an annual interest rate of 13%.
Speaking at the event, Utuje said BRD has channelled substantial financial resources into the programme since its launch.
“Since 2019, BRD has provided approximately Rwf144 billion to partner banks and financial institutions to help Rwandans purchase homes through the Gira Iwawe programme. As a result, 17,845 people have enrolled and acquired homes through the initiative,” she said.
The programme is implemented through several partner financial institutions, including Bank of Kigali, Bank of Africa, Umwalimu SACCO, NCBA Bank Rwanda, BPR Rwanda, Copedu Plc, and other licensed lenders.
BRD further noted that 81% of the programme’s loans have been disbursed through these partner institutions, reflecting strong collaboration between the development bank and Rwanda’s financial sector in expanding access to affordable housing finance.
The initiative has primarily benefited lower-income households. According to BRD, 84% of beneficiaries earn less than Rwf500,000 per month, underscoring the programme’s focus on making homeownership accessible to families with modest incomes.
The data also shows that 37% of beneficiaries are young people, while 36% are women, highlighting the programme’s contribution to youth empowerment and women’s economic inclusion.
The Gira Iwawe programme supports Rwanda’s ambitious housing development agenda. The government aims to construct at least 150,000 additional affordable housing units as part of its long-term target of expanding the country’s housing stock to 5.5 million homes by 2050.
To support this goal, the government has earmarked 1,100 hectares of land across the country for affordable housing development, including 890 hectares in Kigali, where large-scale residential projects are expected to be undertaken.
Among the housing developments that have attracted the highest number of buyers through the Gira Iwawe programme is the Bwiza Riverside Estate, where many beneficiaries have purchased homes using the affordable mortgage scheme.
