Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame relieved the Minister of Health, Dr Agnès Binagwaho, from her duties today without explnation. But according to the East African the minister was sacked due to corruption.
“In accordance with the Constitution as amended to date, specifically article 116, President Paul Kagame has removed from cabinet Dr Agnès Binagwaho,” reads part of the statement signed by Prime Minister Anastase Murekezi according to the New Times
Dr Binagwaho who was appointed Minister of Health in May 2011has had a five year term ridden with scandals. Prior to the appoitnment she had been the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry.
Resurgence of malaria in Rwanda has been blamed on government procurement of 3 million substandard mosquito nets which cost the country more than $15m in 2013. The health ministry and its linked institution Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) were singled out for gross mismanagement of resources by the Auditor General in the 2015 report. Key officials in the two institutions have been arrested or sacked over the last couple of months.
Cabinet fired Dr Corine Karema, who headed the malaria department, and Nathan Mugume, who was the director of Rwanda Health Communication Centre at RBC, on June 24 this year. The two were also implicated in the ongoing audit according to reports.
President Paul #Kagame has relieved Dr. Agnes Binagwaho of her duties as Minister of Health @RwandaHealth #Rwanda pic.twitter.com/WfCi5ZcuNU
— Government of Rwanda (@RwandaGov) July 12, 2016
