Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has named Daniel Ngamije as the new minister of Health, replacing Diane Gashumba who was sacked two weeks ago over “habitual gross errors and repeated leadership failures.”
Dr Ngamije is a relatively new face in Rwandan politics having previously worked for the World Health Organisation as Rwanda’s programme director for Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases.
The physician brings to the ministry over 20 years of experience working in the health sector, including mobilising resources for projects on behalf of the ministry of health.
He will now lead the ministry at a time when the world is facing the deadly Covid-19 coronavirus, and also ensure that Rwanda remains Ebola-free.
He will also be expected to reform the ministry and its affiliates such as the Rwanda Biomedical Centre, often accused of squandering public resources.
Dr Ngamije will also be tasked with reforming hospitals, especially the King Faisal Hospital, which has been bogged down by mismanagement.
The reshuffle also saw new faces in the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Gender , Treasury and Emergency management .
President Kagame also created the Ministry of State for ICT and TVET as a new docket, which will be led by Claudette Irere.
