248 young women begin internships in local government as RALGA launches the 8th edition.

Musanze – The Rwanda Association of Local Government Authorities (RALGA) on 30 September 2026 launched the 8th edition of its professional internship programme in local government for 248 female university fresh graduates in districts and the City of Kigali for six months.

The launch, held at the INES-Ruhengeri campus, brought together around 300 participants, including government officials, interns, and students. Guests included the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Hon. Consolée Uwimana, the guest of honour; Chief Gender Monitor Nadine Umutoni Gatsinzi; Governor of the Northern Province, Mr. Maurice Mugabowagahunde; Musanze District Mayor Claudien Nsengimana; and Burera District Mayor Soline Mukamana, who is also vice chairperson of the Local Government Women Network, a GIZ representative; and heads of public and private universities.

RALGA implements the programme in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF) and other partners.

The association selects top-performing female university graduates and places them in different departments of districts and the City of Kigali. The aim is to connect young women with opportunities in local government and encourage them to compete for jobs and elected leadership positions so that more women are represented in these institutions.

Strong track record

In his opening remarks, Mr. Valens Uwineza, Secretary General of RALGA, thanked the government of Rwanda for collaborating with RALGA through MIGEPROF in empowering and encouraging educated young women to join the local government entities.

“In the last seven editions, 942 young women took part in this internship programme in districts and the City of Kigali. They gained skills, experience, and confidence that help them when they join local government.” He said

As an example, he said the programme also leads to jobs. Of the 200 young women who took part in the 7th edition, which ended in May 2026, at least 106 have found jobs, and specifically 62 were employed in local government, 14 in central government, and 30 in other sectors.

Focus on land services

This edition places special emphasis on land administration. Of the 248 interns deployed, at least 86 are graduates in land surveying who received specialized training from the National Land Authority (NLA) prior to their deployment. They have also been granted access credentials to the Land Administration Information System (LAIS) and are well equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to immediately support land administration services at the local government level. 

“They will support districts and the City of Kigali to reduce the huge backlog of land files stalled in One Stop Centres. This will improve service delivery and help reduce land-related conflicts.” SG UWINEZA said.

Read: RALGA and the National Land Authority induct female interns in land administration before their deployment in local government.

Call to vote and stand for office

Chief Gender Monitor Umutoni Gatsinzi Nadine presented on advancing gender equality in Rwanda. She urged young women to take an active part in the upcoming local government elections, from the grassroots up, both as voters and as candidates, to raise women’s representation in local government.

Give them responsibilities

In her remarks, the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Hon. Uwimana Consolée praised the programme for its achievements over the years and said it aligns the government's vision of equipping women to compete for jobs and elected positions.

“This internship programme goes beyond giving young women the experience and exposure they need to compete for jobs. It is also an opportunity to learn how decentralised entities operate: how they deliver services, plan and monitor, and receive and handle citizens’ complaints," she said.

Minister UWIMANA called on districts and the City of Kigali to welcome the interns not just as trainees but as future leaders and staff of local government.

“Give them responsibilities, give them space and opportunity to lead and manage activities, and give them a platform to express themselves so that this internship can groom the next leaders instead of keeping them behind the scenes," she said.

The minister urged the interns to make the most of the opportunity by being bold, asking for guidance, and striving for excellence.

In total, 942 young women have completed the internship in local government institutions since the programme began. Assessments indicate that many have gone on to secure jobs and leadership positions in local government, other public institutions, the private sector, and civil society.

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