The General Assembly brought together over 280 participants, including 234 RALGA members, development partners, and representatives from various government institutions.
The Assembly approved RALGA’s Five-Year Strategic Plan (2025–2030), which outlines key interventions to improve the performance of Local Government Entities through recruiting competent staff, strengthening staff capacities, conducting policy analysis, and advocating for Local Government Entities.
As part of this strategy, RALGA has set an ambitious target to build the capacity of approximately 28,000 staff members by 2030 and ensure that 100% of newly recruited staff are trained.
This was well-received by members, considering the existing capacity gaps among staff in Local Government Entities, particularly new recruits.
“Coming together like this from all Districts and the City of Kigali is a great opportunity offered by RALGA to exchange ideas, learn, and share experiences.” — Mayor Bruno RANGIRA, First Deputy Chairperson of RALGA, during the opening of the Assembly.
Rangira emphasized that the day presented a unique opportunity to exchange views and further strengthen RALGA as a platform that enables local leaders to gain knowledge, share experiences, and seek solutions to citizens’ challenges.
Members also conducting elections to fill vacant leadership positions within RALGA organs.
Elected leaders are
🔹 Dr. UWIZEYE Odette, the newly elected Chairperson of RALGA. She currently serves as the chairperson of the Rusizi District Council.
🔹 KABAHIRE Stella, Director of City of Kigali Operations, and NARANGWE C. Liliane, Executive Secretary of Karongi District, were elected to join RALGA’s Audit Committee.As part of the 29th General Assembly, a panel discussion on the role of Local Government Entities in the National Strategy for Transformation was held.
Key speakers included Leonard Rugwabiza, Economic Advisor at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN); Doreen Kalimba, Chairperson of the Kayonza District Council; MUKANDAYISENGA Vestine, Mayor of Gakenke District; and Jean Claude Ingabire, Acting Director General of Planning and Monitoring at the Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC). These leaders shared their insights on what Local Government Entities should prioritize to achieve national development goals.
In her opening remarks, Hon. Marie Solange Kayisire, the Minister of State from MINALOC stated that “Achieving the targets of the National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) requires us to constantly assess ourselves to improve our performance, working together, peer learning, and peer review to consistently track our progress in building the capacity of Local Government Entities”.
“According to the EICV7, we have made progress in fighting poverty, but 27.4% of our population are still poor. This presents us with a major challenge. It calls for robust planning and collaboration to reach the NST2 target of reducing poverty to 17%,” said Minister of State Marie Solange Kayisire.
Other key activities during the 29th General Assembly included reviewing the implementation status of resolutions from the last year’s General Assembly; reviewing and approving the 2024–2025 activity and financial report; reviewing and approving the 2025–2026 action plan and budget; and aligning RALGA’s statutes with the law governing non-governmental organizations.
--------------------------------------End-------------------------------------