Rosemary Mbabazi
Rosemary Mbabazi is a Rwandan businesswoman, civil servant and diplomat who served as Cabinet Minister for Youth (later Youth and Culture, after the portfolio was expanded in November 2019) in the Cabinet of Rwanda from 31 August 2017 until 25 March 2023, when President Paul Kagame replaced her with Dr. Abdallah Utumatwishima and immediately appointed her High Commissioner-designate to Ghana. She has served in that post since, and is concurrently accredited as Rwanda's envoy to Benin, Togo, Côte d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone and Liberia — presenting her letters of credence in Abidjan in March 2025 as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Côte d'Ivoire, and in Cotonou and Lomé the year before.
Mbabazi holds a bachelor's degree in education from Makerere University in Kampala and a Master of Business Administration from an institution in the United Kingdom. Before entering cabinet, she spent two years as head of the investment promotion department at the Rwanda Development Board (2009–2011), briefly served as caretaker of the Umubano Hotel and chairperson of Soprotel — a joint venture between the Rwandan and Libyan governments — and then held two permanent-secretary posts in succession: at the Ministry of Youth and ICT from February 2012, and at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and East African Community Affairs (MINEACOM) from February to August 2017. As minister, she became a prominent voice on youth unemployment, entrepreneurship, genocide-ideology prevention among young people online, and support for Rwanda's cultural and creative industries, including the government's COVID-era recovery fund for artists.
Quotes
[edit]- We are one of most Country in world have one language and one cultural.
- “I am asking the Rwandan youth, especially the artists to play a significant and practical role in fighting genocide ideology which is largely spread on the internet and social media,
- RWANDAN YOUTH ASKED TO JOIN BATTLE AGAINST GENOCIDE IDEOLOGY KTPRESS (May 7, 2022).
- The government is counting on the youth in fighting genocide ideology in this generation of the internet and social media where most of the genocide deniers have taken and drawn their battle.
- RWANDAN YOUTH ASKED TO JOIN BATTLE AGAINST GENOCIDE IDEOLOGY KTPRESS (May 7, 2022).
- “You do not only have a country but a country with dignity that makes her people proud wherever they are. We build a country with dignity because we want the youth with dignity. The youth with a dignified life where you are because you represent a country with dignity,
- Hon. Rosemary Mbabazi told the youth that they are lucky to “Have a country everyone can call home, a country you feel proud of and where you are allowed to do what you need to develop."
- The government has come up with different initiatives, with different partners to ensure that the sector is supported to overcome the impact of COVID-19. We fully understand their plight but together we will come up with solutions to ensure that those in the sector are supported.
- ARTISTS, CREATIVES BUOYED BY RWF300M RECOVERY PLAN KT Press (July 25, 2020)
- This Grant will be managed by Business Partners Network (BPN), a local business accelerator, which will review applications and provide a 6-month service period to selected projects.
- 30 projects to benefit from Rwf300 m recovery fund for creatives The New Times (July 25, 2020)
- Like other Rwandans, life has not been easy for artistes. There is need to support artistes in their various federations in order for them to continue with their efforts to develop the Cultural and Creative Industry,
- 30 projects to benefit from Rwf300 m recovery fund for creatives The New Times (July 25, 2020)
- Owing to the current coronavirus containment measures which have led to the closure of concerts in the country, artistes are particularly in need
- 30 projects to benefit from Rwf300 m recovery fund for creatives The New Times (July 25, 2020)
- As the youth of today, let us liberate ourselves from the bondage of poverty, strive for unity and fight anything that can separate us.
- we may have the country everyone is proud of .
- https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/187318/News/liberation-youth-urged-to-learn-from-inkotanyi-spirit ( The New Times Rwanda, Sunday, July 04, 2021)
- “Always be agents of change; security and development programmes are also for you to oversee and implement where you live and pass.”
- “Leave your comfort zones and bring out good ideas. Be self-disciplined and pay your contribution to building Rwanda, that is how we will add on and sustain today’s achievements.”
- “Make sure that you bring solutions that are needed and implement them. Use your passion and do everything with your heart. The government of Rwanda and partners are here to support you. You are able and we believe in you.”
“Learning is a continuous process that not only happens in school as everything in life teaches lessons, for instance; clients, the environment and challenges.”
- "Youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they are partners of today. Our duty as a government is to create an environment where young people can innovate, thrive, and drive our nation’s development."
- "Youth urged to embrace innovation and entrepreneurship", The New Times (August 2019)
- "Culture is the bedrock of our identity and resilience. Preserving our cultural heritage while adapting to modern economic demands is essential for national cohesion."
- "Minister Mbabazi calls for preservation of Rwandan cultural values", Ministry of Youth and Culture (November 2021)
- "Mentorship and entrepreneurship training are vital to transforming youthful energy into productive national development."
- "Rwanda launches new youth empowerment initiatives", KT Press (November 2021)
- "The role of the youth in national reconciliation and unity cannot be overstated. You are the custodians of the peaceful future we are building together."
- "Minister Mbabazi advises youth on unity and reconciliation", The New Times (October 2020)
- A digital skills gap is growing fast for both mid-skill and high-skill level jobs.
- World Youth Skills Day: Youth urged to be ‘game changers’ in the digital era. newtimes.co.rw (September 22, 2026).
- A digital skills gap is growing fast for both mid-skill and high-skill level jobs, that’s why people become irrelevant to the market.
- World Youth Skills Day: Youth urged to be ‘game changers’ in the digital era. newtimes.co.rw (September 22, 2026).
- This is why the Government of Rwanda has established tailored policies and strategies to upskill Rwandan youth.
- World Youth Skills Day: Youth urged to be ‘game changers’ in the digital era. newtimes.co.rw (September 22, 2026).
- We want to put efforts in national service and volunteerism to tackle the various problems that are currently challenging our society.
- New bill proposes comprehensive reforms to Itorero. newtimes.co.rw (September 22, 2026).
- We want our young people to be the unlimited generation, to be empowered to play their role in Rwanda’s transformation.
- Government of Rwanda launches “Generation Unlimited” youth initiative. gov.rw (September 24, 2026).
- The divisionism led to killing more than one million Tutsi. We only need unity and young Diaspora should also learn a lesson so as to make the right decisions. Where there is a will, there is a way,” she said.
- Rwandan youth in Diaspora urged to replicate ‘Walk to Remember’. newtimes.co.rw (September 22, 2026).