President Kagame swears in six senators, introducing four new members to the Upper House.
On October 24, President Paul Kagame officiated the swearing-in ceremony of six senators in Rwanda, marking a significant transition in the country’s legislative body. Among the newly sworn-in senators, four are newcomers, while two are returning for a second five-year term.
The new senators include Valentine Uwamariya, Alfred Gasana, Alphonse Nkubana, and Frank Habineza. The returning senators are Prof. Jean Pierre Dusingizemungu and Evode Uwizeyimana. Uwamariya, Gasana, Dusingizemungu, and Uwizeyimana were appointed by President Kagame on October 21, while Nkubana and Habineza were nominated by the National Consultative Forum of Political Organizations (NFPO) on October 14, with their nominations approved by the Supreme Court on October 15.
According to the Rwandan Constitution, senators are appointed or elected to serve a five-year term, which can be renewed once. However, former Heads of State are not subject to term limits.
Uwamariya and Gasana have replaced Epiphanie Kanziza and André Twahirwa, respectively. Habineza, who is the President of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda (DGPR), and Nkubana, the Chairman of the Prosperity and Solidarity Party (PSP), have taken over from Senators Alexis Mugisha of DGPR and Clotilde Mukakarangwa of the Centrist Democratic Party (PDC), who have completed their terms.
Profiles of the New Senators
Here is a closer look at the four new faces in the Upper House, which now boasts gender parity:
Valentine Uwamariya
Valentine Uwamariya, 54, is an accomplished environmental scientist with a PhD from UNESCO-IHE and Delft University of Technology. She has extensive experience in both government and academia, having held various ministerial roles in environment, gender and family promotion, and education in Rwanda.
Her leadership experience spans seven years, during which she has been involved in policy design, institutional development, and organizational change. Uwamariya has also held academic positions at Rwanda Polytechnic, progressing from assistant lecturer to dean and deputy vice chancellor. Her ministerial roles include serving as Minister of Environment from June 2024 to July 2025, Minister of Gender and Family Promotion from August 2023 to June 2024, and Minister of Education from February 2020 to August 2023.
Alfred Gasana
Alfred Gasana, 57, previously served as the Minister of Interior from 2021 to 2024. His career includes a decade-long tenure as the Director General of Internal Intelligence and Security Service at the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) from 2011 to 2021. Gasana has also been a Member of Parliament in the Chamber of Deputies and held various local government positions, including Vice Mayor in Charge of Economic and Development Affairs and Mayor of Nyakabanda Commune.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in law and brings a wealth of experience in governance and public administration.
Frank Habineza
Frank Habineza, 48, is a political leader and environmentalist with a diverse background in public administration and security. He has been involved in organizational management at the Africa Center for Peace Security and Environmental Affairs (ACPSEA) since November 2024. Previously, he served as a Member of Parliament and Vice President of the Social Affairs Committee in the Chamber of Deputies.
Habineza has also held leadership roles in various environmental organizations and has an educational background that includes an honorary doctorate of humanities from Bethel University and a master’s degree in war studies from the Swedish Defence University.
Alphonse Nkubana
Alphonse Nkubana, 51, is an entrepreneur and financial strategist with over twenty-five years of experience in business and governance. He is the founder and CEO of Positive Thinking Ltd, a company that provides various professional services in Rwanda. Nkubana has been active in political leadership, serving as chairman of the PSP party since 2019 and previously as Spokesperson of the NFPO.
He holds a master’s degree in international relations from Mount Kenya University and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the Université Libre de Kigali (ULK), along with extensive experience in financial management and stakeholder engagement.
The introduction of these new senators is expected to bring fresh perspectives and expertise to the Rwandan Senate, contributing to the ongoing development of the country’s legislative framework.
Key Points
- President Kagame swore in six senators, including four newcomers.
- New senators include Valentine Uwamariya, Alfred Gasana, Alphonse Nkubana, and Frank Habineza.
- Returning senators are Prof. Jean Pierre Dusingizemungu and Evode Uwizeyimana.
- Senators serve a five-year term, renewable once, according to the Rwandan Constitution.
- The new Senate composition reflects gender parity.
Sources: Who are the new faces in the Senate?
