The newly elected Executive Committee of the Rwanda Association of Local Government Authorities took over and committed to sustain the achievements of the organisation at local, regional, continental and global levels.
The pledge was made by Mrs Nyiramasengesho Jeannette, the newly elected Chairperson of RALGA, on behalf of her team, as they took over from the outgoing Executive Committee, during a handover ceremony held in Kigali on 04th November 2022.
At the same function, the outgoing Chairperson, Mr UWIMANA Innocent, presented to the new committee the state of the Association. He confidently expressed his going concern of RALGA, basing on its track record and good performance. “RALGA is well positioned both nationally and internationally, and it fully owned by the members. That is the starting point as you take over. It is a matter of consolidation and innovation”, he said.
The outgoing chairperson introduced different projects that RALGA implemented in the past. He briefly spoke of the ongoing projects and partnerships. He introduced a team of RALGA staff led by its Secretary General, Mr Ladislas Ngendahimana, as part of the handover to the new team. He commended the staff of RALGA for professionalism while performing their duties and tasks.
The handover was also an opportunity to touch on potential partnerships as well as key networks for consolidation. He informed the new Executive Committee that; RALGA shall be celebrating its twenty years of existence in 2023 as Rwanda shall also be hosting the Commonwealth Local Government Conference, to which RALGA sits as Vice Chair of the Board. “Those two events are critical for the Association, and the new Executive Committee should prioritize them”, he said.
He advised the new committee to maintain the influential role that RALGA has at a global arena within the local government networks.
“We are proud to handover RALGA as an established organisation, that has a voice to represent Rwanda’s local government locally and internationally,” said Uwimana Innocent. “During our tenure, RALGA has expanded its partnerships locally and globally, so we are confident that the new committee will sustain them and expand the horizons to greater heights” he added.
The outgoing committee underlined financial sustainability and capacity building of both local government leaders and staff among the priorities that the new leadership should focus on.
Nyiramasengesho Jeannette, on behalf of the new committee expressed appreciation to the new committee for the work done and committed to sustain the achieved gains.
“I commend the outgoing committee for the quality work done and the registered achievements during their term. My colleagues I and are proud to inherit an established organisation which has a clear vision, a strategic plan, a strong technical team and high recognition at both local and global levels. We shall build on that as we innovate to stay relevant”, she said.
Members of the new RALGA Excom in a group photo with RALGA Secretary General
During the handover, RALGA awarded members of the outgoing committee with certificates of recognition for the services rendered to the organisation.
The Secretary General of RALGA awarding a certificate of recognition to the outgoing chairperson, Uwimana Innocent