Donatille Mukabalisa
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Donatille Mukabalisa (30 July 1960 – 30 July 2026) was a Rwandan lawyer and politician. She was Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies from 2013 to 2024, and afterwards served in the Senate of Rwanda, to which she was re-appointed in September 2024. In 2016 she became the first woman to chair the Liberal Party.
Quotes
[edit]- Mukabalisa said the years she spent in a country where human rights had been badly damaged shaped her decision to fight injustice through politics.
- Recalling her motivation for entering politics in 2000, as reported in her Wikipedia biography
- nothing is surprising about including women in political life.
- "Rwanda: 'Il n'y a rien d'étonnant à inclure les femmes dans la vie politique'", Le360 Afrique (11 April 2024)
- My country Rwanda is ready. Its geo-strategic position in East and Central Africa is an asset and presents immense business opportunities for Israel investors.
- "Rwanda Speaker of Parliament Lures Israeli Investors", KT Press (December 2017)
- Israel and Rwanda maintain excellent relations. There has been exchange of working visits between Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu of Israel in July 2016 in Kigali and President Paul Kagame in 2017 in Israel to enhance these relations.
- "Rwanda Speaker of Parliament Lures Israeli Investors", KT Press (December 2017)
- Though you have lost all your children, spouses, all your family members during the Genocide against the Tutsis, though you are left with wounds the broken heart, we are now happy because you always show us that you are strong.
- "Speaker Mukabalisa lauded elderly genocide survivors' resilience", Parliament of Rwanda (16 June 2023)
- The motivation came from our history and, of course, a career in the United Nations. You cannot work within the UN system without being interested in politics and governance.
- "We want more Nigerian investors in Rwanda, says speaker of parliament", The Cable (interview)
- We thank Rwandans for their trust in us. We will build on the achievements of the 3rd term of Chamber of Deputies and work together with all institutions and Rwandans in general to effectively deliver on our constitutional mandate.
- says by Donatille Mukabalisa in Re-Elected Speaker Of Parliament KT Press (September 19, 2018)
- We shall work hard to help the country achieve its development targets as envisioned in Vision 2020,
- Take outh of office said Mukabalisa newtimes (December 11, 2022)
- It is our deepest hope that we will certainly have a highly fruitful Session of the APU Executive Committee, which no doubt will pave the way for us to discuss with our African counterparts how best to cater to the needs of our citizens and contribute to helping them fulfill their aspirations.
- Rwanda To Host African Parliamentary Union Meeting. KTPress. (March 2022)
- The organization was formed at the hardest times and by few women members of parliament who were brave and shared vision of which they never gave up to till we took up their responsibility.
- Women Parliamentarians Forum Elect New Committee. KTPress. (November 2018)
- The 3rd parliament did many good things and we are committed to achieving even more .
- We thank Rwandans for their trust in us. We will work together with all institutions and Rwandans in general to effectively deliver on our constitutional mandate.
- https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/158778/News/mukabalisa-re-elected-speaker-of-parliament ( The New Times Rwanda , Thursday, September 20, 2018 )
- It’s good; it means that we are promoting the development of women. We should be happy about it as women and the whole country and it means that we will develop more.
- https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/158173/News/women-to-take-61-per-cent-of-seats-in-the-next-chamber-of-deputies ( The New Times Rwanda , Wednesday, September 05, 2018)
- The Covid-19 caused us major problems, but also provided lessons to us. We will talk to the people so that we establish whether they are using the savings initiatives that were established because you know that those who managed to save were not much affected [by the pandemic] .
- https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/181217/News/covid-19-underscores-need-to-increase-savings-says-speaker-of-parliament ( The New Times , November 02, 2020)
- In line with economic recovery, parliamentarians have a major responsibility to enact laws, and consider which sectors should get more funding allocation when approving the national budget, but also to monitor to ensure that the allocated resources to various initiatives are put to good use to deliver intended results in an efficient way .
- https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/186291/News/speaker-mukabalisa-underscores-legislatorsa-role-in-covid-19-recovery-focused-budgeting (The New Times , Wednesday, May 26, 2021)
- The ensuing positive cooperation also boosts parliamentary diplomacy. We will all have to agree on which projects to visit to make sure they will have a fruitful tour .
- https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/133133/News/eu-lawmakers-to-visit-next-month ( The New Times , August 30, 2016 )
- I would like to urge you to produce children you are able to raise.
- https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/168354/News/nyagatare-speaker-mukabalisa-urges-parents-to-promote-birth-control ( The New Times , , July 28, 2019 )
- It's true that many African countries have made progress in setting up legal and institutional frameworks for gender equality, measures have been taken to close the gender gap in education and improve women’s economic and political participation.
- Speaker Mukabalisa calls for elimination of gender equality gaps igihe.com (September 19, 2026 )
- Africa of 2063 would see fully empowered women with equal access and opportunity in all spheres of life. This means that the African woman would have equal economic rights, including the rights to own and inherit property, sign a contract, register and manage a business. Over 90% of rural women would have access to productive assets, including land, credit, inputs and financial services.
- Speaker Mukabalisa calls for elimination of gender equality gaps igihe.com ( September 19, 2026 )
- "Women’s leadership in parliament is not a favor; it is a fundamental aspect of inclusive democracy and effective governance."
- "Rwanda leads the world in women parliamentarians", The New Times (March 2021)
- "A budget that does not address gender gaps is a budget that leaves half of our population behind."
- "Parliament calls for gender-responsive budgeting", KT Press (June 2020)
- "Legislators must not only pass laws; we must continuously monitor their implementation to ensure they transform the daily lives of citizens."
- "Speaker Mukabalisa opens parliamentary session", Parliament of Rwanda (October 2019)
- "Peacebuilding requires the active participation of women, as sustainable peace cannot be achieved without addressing gender equality and social justice."
- "Rwandan Women in Peace and Security", UN Women (October 2018)
- "Writing helps preserve the memory of genocide, Documentation will also serve as a vital tool to counter denial or revisionism of the Genocide against the Tutsi."
- "We, the parliament, will keep electing laws that prevent and punish hate speech to lay emphasis on our contribution towards building peace and unity and give youth a room to understand sustainable peace.”
- "The peace and security we strived for became the pillar of development we are celebrating today. However, the journey is still long because we, Rwandans, still have many goals to achieve and we can’t achieve them without working together,”
- "It is sad that, as we mourn our loved ones, we still have so many Genocide perpetrators roaming foreign countries, We thank countries which have arrested and extradited Genocide fugitives or even tried them but there are still so many out there who need to be brought to book,”
- Although we have made progress that we should preserve and build on, there are still problems affecting families, including conflicts within families.
- Bugesera: Senator Mukabalisa pointed out that conflicts hinder the development of married couples.Muhazi Yacu(March 09,2025)
- We encourage you to continue preserving the genocide memorials and places containing historical evidence of the Genocide against the Tutsi. We must also continue strengthening Rwandan resilience through the Ndi Umunyarwanda programme, because our unity is the foundation on which we have built.
- Senator Mukabalisa urged residents of Bugesera to preserve the memorials.Muhazi Yacu(March 29,2025)
- Remembering the Genocide against the Tutsi is everyone’s responsibility.
- Message from the PL Party on the 31st CommemorationUmuseke(April 7, 2025)
- The same statement emphasized remembering victims, fighting discrimination and genocide ideology, strengthening unity, and encouraging young people to learn from the history of the country.
- Message from the PL Party on the 31st CommemorationUmuseke(April 7, 2025)
- The current Speaker Donatille Mukabalisa said: "Parliament has seen multi-faceted changes over the last 25 years.
- The journey of the Rwandan parliament. newtimes.co.rw (September 22, 2026).
- She said: "The fact that women have been involved in political life of our country is in recognition of a need to create and sustain an environment of inclusive and responsive political process.”
- The journey of the Rwandan parliament. newtimes.co.rw (September 22, 2026).
- And the more women representatives in Parliament, the more likely the Parliament will address women’s issues and gender equality issues.
- The journey of the Rwandan parliament. newtimes.co.rw (September 22, 2026).
- It is the role of parliaments to strive for sustainable peace and during the assembly, we will do our job of oversight to find ways of finding possible solutions,” Mukabalisa said today during a press briefing.
- Rwanda to Host 47th Francophonie Parliamentary Assembly. ketpress.rw (September 22, 2026).
- We all need Rwandan children to be responsible citizens in future.
- Children Request Government To Tighten Punishment Against Defilement. ketpress.rw (September 22, 2026).
- She further said; “A lot has been done to protect children. But challenges keep coming back. This early pregnancies will be fought together with children, parents and authorities.”
- Children Request Government To Tighten Punishment Against Defilement. ketpress.rw (September 22, 2026).
- Fighting injustice inspired me to join politics.
- Fighting injustice inspired me to join politics, says Speaker Mukabalisa. newtimes. (September 25, 2026).
- One learns from his or her mistakes.
- Fighting injustice inspired me to join politics, says Speaker Mukabalisa. newtimes. (September 25, 2026).
- Our continent has huge potential that can contribute to this revival.
- https://www.ktpress.rw/2021/05/african-lawmakers-from-francophonie-meet-in-kigali/. ketpress (September 25, 2026).
- It just depends on us, as the African people, to safeguard our dignity.
- African Lawmakers from Francophonie Meet in Kigali. ketpress (September 25, 2026).
- To strengthen our solidarity based on the common ambition to advance our countries, continent and the people.
- African Lawmakers from Francophonie Meet in Kigali . ketpress (September 25, 2026).
- Good leaders must be held accountable by their peers and those that they lead.
- Rwanda Speaker of Parliament Lures Israeli Investors. ketpress (September 25, 2026).
