Mukabarisa Donatille

Donatille Mukabalisa (1960–2026), a respected Rwandan public figure and former Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, remembered for her service to Rwanda and her contribution to parliamentary life

Donatille Mukabalisa (30 July 1960 – 30 July 2026) was a Rwandan lawyer and politician. She served as Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies from 2013 to 2024 and later served as a Senator. She also served as president of the Liberal Party.

Quotes

Women's political participation

• “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/98911/National/interview-fighting-injustice-inspired-me-to-join-politics-says-speakermukabalisa

Parliamentary leadership

• “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.”
• https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/98911/National/interview-fighting-injustice-inspired-me-to-join-politics-says-speakermukabalisa
• Everything on that agenda requires our undivided attention, including the Bills, the reports from various organs and approval of reports by lawmakers on return from various official work trips. If there are issues, in whatever reports, we shall have to seek solutions, in collaboration with other government institutions.**(he new times,October 14, 2013)

Family planning

• “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/amp

COVID-19 and economic recovery

• “he Covid-19 caused us major problems, but also provided lessons to us.”https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/181217/News/covid-19-underscores-need-to-increase-savings-says-speaker-of-parliament

• “In line with economic recovery, parliamentarians have a major responsibility to enact laws…”
  • https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/186291/News/speaker-mukabalisa-underscores-legislatorsa-role-in-covid-19-recovery-focused-budgeting

African parliamentary cooperation

• “It is our deepest hope that we will certainly have a highly fruitful Session of the APU Executive Committee…”
  • https://www.africa-press.net/rwanda/economy/rwanda-to-share-best-practices-at-african-parliamentary-union

Peace and parliamentary diplomacy

• “It is the role of parliaments to strive for sustainable peace…\
• ktpress.rw/2022/07/rwanda-to-host-47th-francophonie-parliamentary-assembly/

• Fighting injustice inspired me to join politics,**(the new times,October 14, 2013)

• one learns from his or her mistakes **(the new times,October 14, 2013)
• We shall work on energising these so that our voice is heard as regards matters concerning relations with other countries. **(the new times,October 14, 2013)

• lawmakers actually go down to the population, both on individual basis and on committee level, because you cannot ably assess the implementation of various government projects without going to the field.
  • (he new times,October 14, 2013)

• think that people should really understand the work of Parliament. Normally, a mechanism was set up whereby every lawmaker has two days, each month, to go and visit people in his or her district of origin.
  • (he new times,October 14, 2013)