Senator Mukabalisa Donatille has been remembered for her commitment to public service, justice, good governance and the development of Rwanda, as the country paid tribute to one of its long-serving parliamentary leaders.
During a ceremony to bid her farewell with honour, FPR Inkotanyi Secretary General Ambassador Christophe Bazivamo delivered a message of condolence from President Paul Kagame to Mukabalisa’s family.
Bazivamo said the country would continue to cherish the values Mukabalisa demonstrated throughout her public life, describing them as part of the foundation of Rwanda’s development.
He said her contribution was not limited to the positions she held, but was reflected in the principles of service, responsibility and commitment to the country that characterised her public career.
Mukabalisa was a lawyer by training and served Rwanda in several capacities before and during her political career. She worked with international institutions including the United Nations Development Programme and the World Health Organization before entering politics.
She served in Rwanda’s transitional legislature, later became a member of the Chamber of Deputies and rose to become Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, a position she held from 2013 to 2024. She subsequently joined the Senate in 2024.
Her colleagues and political leaders have also associated her legacy with the pursuit of justice and the fight against injustice. In an earlier interview, Mukabalisa said her desire to contribute to the fight against injustice was among the reasons that motivated her to enter politics.
Her long parliamentary career also placed her at the centre of Rwanda’s efforts to strengthen democratic institutions, legislation and good governance in the post-genocide period.
The eulogies portrayed her as a public servant whose contribution extended beyond political office, with her discipline, sense of responsibility, commitment to justice and dedication to national service cited among the qualities for which she will be remembered.
For the family, colleagues and fellow public servants gathered at the farewell ceremony, the occasion was both a moment of mourning and recognition of a career spent serving Rwanda.
Through Bazivamo, President Kagame conveyed condolences to Mukabalisa’s family and recognised the legacy she leaves behind, saying the values she embodied remain part of the country’s continuing development journey.
