Rwanda is mourning the loss of Donatille Mukabalisa, former Speaker of Parliament and Senator, who died on Thursday at King Faisal Hospital in Kigali after a short illness. She was 66 years old.
Francois Xavier Kalinda, the President of the Senate, confirmed her passing in a statement, expressing deep sorrow on behalf of the Senate.
Political Career
A stalwart of the opposition Liberal Party, Mukabalisa's political journey began in 2000 when she joined the National Transitional Assembly. She served there until 2003, after which she was elected to the Chamber of Deputies following the adoption of Rwanda’s new Constitution.
Her tenure in the Chamber of Deputies lasted until 2011. In 2013, she rose to the position of Speaker of Parliament, a role she held until 2024. During her speakership, she oversaw significant legislative developments, including the landmark constitutional amendment that removed presidential term limits, enabling President Paul Kagame to run for a third term.
Professional and Party Leadership
- Before her political career, Mukabalisa was a law lecturer at Kigali Independent University.
- She also worked with international organisations such as the World Health Organization and the United Nations Development Program.
- In 2016, she became the first female president of the Liberal Party, leading the party until her death.
Mukabalisa's leadership was marked by her role in facilitating parliamentary discussions on public petitions and constitutional reforms, reflecting her influence in Rwanda's political landscape over more than two decades.
