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Women in Local Government Convened for 4th General Assembly of the Local Government Women Network

9 March 2026

Kigali, 05 March 2026, Women leaders and staff from all levels of local government in Rwanda convened for the 4th General Assembly of the Local Government Women Network, an initiative of the Rwanda Association of Local Government Authorities (RALGA) aimed at strengthening women’s leadership, mentorship, and collaboration across decentralized governance structures.

The Assembly brought together women from the City of Kigali, Districts, Sectors, and Cells, alongside representatives from the Ministry of Gender and Family promotion, Ministry of Local Government, Gender Monitoring Office, National Women's Council, and development partners committed.

In her opening remarks, Hon. Uwimana Consolee, the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion thanked the Government of Rwanda for placing women at the forefront of local governance.

“Although there is strong political will, it is still evident that women do not participate enough in decision-making positions as much as they should, particularly within local government structures closest to the citizens.” Minister Uwimana highlighted.

She commended RALGA, MINALOC, and MIGEPROF for providing over 900 young women with practical training and mentorship through a joint internship program for female fresh graduates.

“Local governments are the foundation of governance. They are the closest government structures to citizens, they receive their concerns, and they work to find solutions. When women are not adequately represented in these structures to contribute to decisions that affect them, it is a loss to the communities,” the Minister added.

Dr. Uwizeye Odette, the Chairperson of RALGA highlighted the importance of gender mainstreaming as a tool to build stronger, more inclusive governance. She stressed that leadership must leave no one behind and that women’s voices are essential in shaping local development.

Dr. Uwizeye noted that while women hold 44.49% of elected positions, representation remains lower in executive and technical roles, and barriers such as limited access to education, economic opportunities, and mentorship persist.

A panel discussions underscored the role of inclusive governance, mentorship, and family support in empowering women.

Highlights of the panel discussion included:

Leadership and empowerment: Women must be involved in governance, education, health, and economic planning. Women-led households have seen measurable increases in local development indicators.

Mentorship and youth engagement: Platforms provided by the Women’s Network encourage young girls to pursue elective roles, particularly in non-governmental positions (“Imyanya ipiganirwa”), where women currently represent 33%.

Male engagement: Men play a vital role in supporting women leaders, sharing household responsibilities, and advocating for gender equality.

“When men support women to run for office, their likelihood of success increases. Gender equality is not a women’s issue alone; it benefits the entire community,” said Rutayisire Fidèle, a panelist from RWAMREC, a Rwandan NGO that engages men as allies to promote gender equality through positive masculinity.

At the assembly RALGA highlighted provisional statistics on women’s representation in local government in 2026:

  • Elective positions: 44.49%
  • Staff positions: 33%
  • District and City of Kigali Councils: 46.74%
  • District and City of Kigali Executive Committees: 38.1%
  • Vice Mayors in Districts and the City of Kigali: 42.86%
  • Sector Councils: 50.29%
  • Sector Executive Secretaries: 16%
  • Cell Councils: 50.34%
  • Cell Executive Secretaries: 29%
  • Village Executive Committees: 40.39%
     

Participants committed to strengthening mentorship programs, expanding women’s participation in elective and staff positions.

“Our goal is to empower women to step forward in governance while ensuring that young girls are encouraged, trained, and inspired to do the same,” said Dr. Kagwesage Anne Marie, Chairperson of the Local Government Women Network.

The General Assembly concluded with a renewed commitment to ensure that Rwandan women continue to play a central role in local governance, both as leaders and as advocates for their communities, ensuring that governance is inclusive, equitable, and responsive to citizens’ needs.

 

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