Former Rwandan High Commissioner to Singapore appointed Minister of State for Infrastructure

President Paul Kagame has appointed Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye as the Minister of State for Infrastructure, marking a return to a portfolio he held before arriving in Singapore, from 2017 to 2019. The announcement came as part of a broader cabinet reshuffle following the appointment of Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva.

Uwihanganye’s reappointment is widely seen as a recognition of his diplomatic achievements during his six-year tenure as Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand. His time in Singapore was marked by a deepening of bilateral ties, strategic collaborations, and a shared vision for innovation and development between the two republics.

Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye assumed his diplomatic post in Singapore in July 2019. Under his stewardship, Rwanda and Singapore witnessed a notable expansion in bilateral cooperation, particularly in areas of fintech, education, infrastructure, and socio-economic development.

One of the most significant milestones was the Inclusive FinTech Forum (IFF) held in Kigali in June 2023. The event, which was co-hosted by Rwanda’s Kigali International Financial Centre and Elevandi, a firm established by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). The forum brought together global regulators, investors, and policymakers to promote financial inclusion and responsible fintech practices across the Global South.

During his term Uwihanganye promoted Rwanda as a thought leader in fintech and praised Singapore’s commitment to building international ecosystems for digital infrastructure and cross-border B2B fintech.

Another landmark achievement was the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on September 29, 2023, between Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MINAFFET) and Singapore Cooperation Enterprise (SCE). The MoU aimed to renew and strengthen bilateral cooperation in mutual socio-economic development, focusing on capacity building, governance, and public service delivery. The two Republics also concluded a landmark carbon credit implementation agreement under his watch, which would allow Singapore firms to offset emissions (subject to limits) through the purchase high integrity carbon credits produced out of conservation projects in Rwanda.

Uwihanganye is a close friend of the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and a vocal supporter of the NTU-SBF Centre for African Studies (CAS). It was during his term as the High Commissioner of Rwanda that President Paul Kagame delivered the Majulah Lecture at NTU. He saw the conclusion of a 5-year agreement that will allow over 300 Rwandan students to pursue post-graduate degrees at NTU. The first cohort of such students graduated in 2024.

President Paul Kagame delivering the Majulah Lecture. Photo source: NTU

Uwihanganye actively participated in several CAS events, including panel discussions and roundtables that explored Africa’s evolving role in global trade, innovation, and sustainability. He developed a close friendship with Centre Director Amit Jain and would invite him to the many important official events including Kwibohora (Liberation Day) and Kwibuka (the National Day of Remembrance that honours the memory of more than one million Rwandans who died in the hundred days of the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994). His speeches at Kwibuka emphasized the importance of memory, resilience, and international solidarity.

(from right to left) Centre Director Amit Jain with Jean Nepo Sibomana, Judge Jonathan Moses and Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye at Kwibuka 30.

In 2023, he helped facilitate a 11-day student-faculty reporting trip to Rwanda from where 13 NTU students pursuing journalism submitted a series of news features and photo-essays. It was the very first time in its 25-year history the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (WKWSCI) chose Africa as a destination for reporting. The students’ stories were published in the local and international media. While in Kigali, they also posted blogs and pictures which showed similarities and differences between Singapore and Rwanda. That is not all. In 2022, he furthered his education with a postgraduate degree in Business Administration from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU). The former High Commissioner was a top performing participant at the Nanyang Fellows Programme at NTU and his contribution which included his sharing of Rwanda’s development journey with other participants made the programme rich.

A Technocrat with Vision

Born on Jan 8, 1987, in Gatsibo, Rwanda, Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye is a trained engineer with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the National University of Rwanda and a master’s in construction project management from the University of Manchester.

His technical background and international exposure have equipped him with a unique blend of expertise in infrastructure planning, project management, and policy formulation. Before his diplomatic posting, he served as Rwanda’s Minister of State for Transport and held leadership roles in the private sector and academia.

Looking Ahead

As Minister of State for Infrastructure, Uwihanganye is expected to leverage his experience in Singapore (as well as Australia and New Zealand) to advance Rwanda’s ambitious infrastructure agenda. His return to the ministry comes at a time when Rwanda is investing heavily in sustainable transport, smart cities, and resilient public works.

Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye’s appointment is more than a political reshuffle—it is a strategic move that bridges diplomacy and development. The NTU-SBF Centre for African Studies believes that his diplomatic acumen and familiarity with international best practices will be instrumental in attracting foreign investment and fostering public-private partnerships.

As Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye transitions back to his ministerial role in Kigali, Muhizi Bagamba Innocent is expected to succeed him as Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Singapore. Muhizi, who previously served as Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA), was picked to take over as the next High Commissioner to Singapore in July. He comes with a strong background in ICT and public sector transformation and his appointment signals an emphasis on digital diplomacy and innovation-driven partnerships between Rwanda and Singapore. 

Despite the blossoming diplomatic ties between Singapore and Rwanda the two-way trade between the two Republic remains modest.