Eng. Apollinaire Sayinzoga Nkongoli has been elected Chairperson of the Board of Transparency International Rwanda (TIR), taking over from Ingabire Marie Immaculée, who passed away.
The announcement was made on Friday, February 20, following an extraordinary General Assembly held on February 15, 2026.
During the same meeting, Maître Jeanne D’Arc Mukakalisa was elected First Vice Chairperson, while Placide Mukwende and Ignace Iyakaremye were voted in as members of the nine-person Board of Directors.
The leadership changes come at a critical time for the anti-corruption watchdog, which has played a central role in promoting accountability, integrity and good governance in Rwanda for years.
Sayinzoga previously served as First Vice Chairperson since 2021, where he was actively involved in guiding the organization’s strategic direction and oversight functions. His elevation to chairperson signals continuity in leadership and reflects the confidence members have in his experience and stewardship.
The newly elected First Vice Chairperson, Maître Mukakalisa, brings extensive expertise in law and governance, having already served on the Board. Her appointment is expected to strengthen institutional oversight and policy guidance within the organization.
With the inclusion of Mukwende and Iyakaremye, the Board now reaches its full composition of nine members, as stipulated by the organization’s statutes.
The Board of Directors is responsible for setting the overall strategic direction of Transparency International Rwanda, overseeing its daily operations and approving key policies and programs. It operates through an Executive Bureau comprising the Chairperson, First and Second Vice Chairpersons, and the Board Secretary.
The latest appointments reaffirm the organization’s commitment to sustaining momentum in the fight against corruption and reinforcing ethical leadership across public and private institutions.
