The Cabinet, chaired by President Paul Kagame, has approved the convening of the National Umushyikirano Council, Rwanda’s high-level forum for dialogue between citizens and leaders.
The decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at Village Urugwiro.
According to the resolutions of the meeting, the Umushyikirano Council is scheduled to take place from February 5 to 6, 2026.
The last Umushyikirano Council was held on January 23–24, 2024, with no session convened in 2025.
Traditionally chaired by the President, the Umushyikirano Council brings together representatives from across society, including government leaders, Rwandans living abroad, diplomats, international organisations, development partners and media representatives from Rwanda, the region and beyond.
During the most recent session, President Kagame reviewed Rwanda’s progress 31 years after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, highlighting achievements in national reconstruction and reaffirming that the country’s development journey remains on track across all sectors.
Discussions at the previous council focused on progress in implementing the National Strategy for Transformation (NST1), economic self-reliance, and both traditional and emerging pillars of growth. The forum also addressed national unity and reconciliation, as well as the role of youth in shaping Rwanda’s future.
Key resolutions adopted during the last Umushyikirano covered economic growth, social welfare and governance. These included accelerating agricultural productivity and food self-sufficiency through expanded cultivated land, irrigation and post-harvest storage; scaling up agro-processing facilities and rural road infrastructure; strengthening diaspora investment mechanisms; expanding access to clean water; and reforming the Business Development Fund to better support small and medium enterprises, particularly in agriculture and livestock.
In the social sector, resolutions emphasised strengthening healthcare services and infrastructure, expanding technical and vocational education, supporting youth to acquire rare skills, promoting sports development, and improving talent identification systems.
On governance, priorities included reinforcing unity and resilience among Rwandans, especially youth; intensifying the fight against genocide ideology and denial; expanding digital service delivery through Irembo; and strengthening youth empowerment through entrepreneurship, creative industries and targeted skills training centres.
The upcoming Umushyikirano Council is expected to review progress on these commitments and outline priorities for the next phase of Rwanda’s development agenda.
