Rwanda has appointed a new leadership team at the Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (Rwanda FDA), alongside a series of senior government appointments affecting the Ministry of Justice, Senate and other public institutions.
Prof. Raymond Muganga was appointed Director General of the Rwanda FDA, with Dr. Jean Pierre Munyampundu taking charge of the authority’s food department and Dr. Monia Giraso Keza Kabandana appointed to lead laboratory services.
The appointments were announced following a Cabinet meeting chaired by President Paul Kagame at Village Urugwiro on September 18, 2026.
Muganga joins the top leadership of the medicines and food regulator after serving as head of its laboratory responsible for testing the quality of medicines and food products.
A pharmacist and academic, he previously taught pharmacy at the University of Rwanda and served as head of its pharmacy department from 2005 to 2007. He also headed the Rwanda National Pharmacy Council between 2013 and 2019.
Muganga holds a PhD in pharmaceutical sciences from the University of Liège in Belgium and a master’s degree in pharmacology from the University of the Western Cape in South Africa. His research has focused on phytomedicine and the quality control of herbal medicines.
Kabandana, who will oversee laboratory services, is a bioanalytical chemist and researcher with a PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology, specialising in bioanalytical chemistry.
Her research has included 3D-printed tools for bioanalytical studies and new approaches to antimicrobial drug research. She has also been involved in encouraging girls and young people to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Munyampundu had been serving as acting head of the Rwanda FDA’s food department since August 13, 2026. He previously headed the department responsible for food registration and information control.
He spent more than a decade teaching at the University of Rwanda and headed its Biotechnology Laboratory Complex from 2018 to 2021.
Munyampundu holds a PhD in molecular plant pathology from Zhejiang University in China and a master’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from Xiamen University.
Senior appointments across government
The changes also bring new leadership to several other institutions.
At the Ministry of Justice, Bibiane Umuzayire Burayobera was appointed Permanent Secretary, while Jean Pierre Rwagasana was named Director General in charge of General Services.
Olivier Mushimire was appointed Secretary General of the Senate after previously serving as an adviser to the President of the Senate.
Charles Munyaneza was appointed Director General of the National Rehabilitation Service, replacing Fred Mufulukye, who had held the position since 2021.
At the Ministry of Local Government, Chadia Ingabire was appointed Director General in charge of General Services.
The Rwanda Law Reform Commission also received new appointments, with Izere Parfait named Vice President and Munezero Marie Jeanne and Ngirinshuti Samuel appointed commissioners.
The appointments were among a wider set of decisions taken by Cabinet, which also approved new policies, draft laws and other measures during its September 18 meeting.
