AGP Executive Report

Urban Mobility: A new push to build cycling lanes and a stronger cycling culture could make Huye Rwanda’s next cycling city. Digital Leadership: Noëlla Dushime has taken over as Irembo CEO, with Ngabe Rutagarama appointed CTO, as the digital services company sets its next course. Women at Work: Spiro and ESP have begun training 50 women in Rwanda to become electric motorcycle riders and business owners, addressing a major gender gap in transport. Hearing Care: Rwanda’s First Lady and Princess Lalla Asmaa opened the country’s first hearing diagnosis and rehabilitation centre in Kigali, expanding care for children and families. Safer Media: Rwanda’s women journalists’ associations have joined forces to tackle harassment and discrimination, while a five-and-a-half-year media support programme has wrapped up. Genocide Remembrance: Rwanda has released 533 genocide convicts after they completed their sentences, renewing attention on justice and reconciliation.

Women in E-Mobility: Spiro and ESP have begun training 50 Rwandan women to become electric motorcycle riders and business owners, aiming to reach 500 participants in the pilot and 5,000 by 2030. Women in Media: Rwanda’s women journalists’ associations have joined forces to tackle workplace harassment and discrimination, while the five-and-a-half-year Rwanda Media Programme has closed after backing journalism, media sustainability and training. Music and Culture: ACCES 2026 offers Rwanda lessons from across Africa’s music industry, with the gathering spotlighting opportunities for the country’s creative sector.

Music Industry: ACCES 2026 has put Rwanda’s place in Africa’s music scene in focus, with discussion on what the country can learn from the continent’s industry gathering. Community Care: Princess Lalla Asmaa visited Kigali’s Mike Stenbock Gemura Kitchen, which prepares up to 15,000 meals a day for hospital patients; in 2025, it served 3.2 million meals across six public hospitals. Women’s Empowerment: More than 80 women completed training at Kigali’s Agaseke Center in business creativity, weaving and women’s rights. The centre promotes traditional culture while helping vulnerable women build skills and income. Media Training: A French Embassy-backed programme for Rwandan journalists has wrapped up, with sessions on newsroom AI, gender representation, ethical practice and solution-focused reporting.

Music Industry: ACCES 2026 is prompting a timely question: what can Rwanda learn from Africa’s growing music business, and how can the country strengthen its creative scene? Media Skills: A French Embassy-backed program has wrapped up in Kigali, training Rwandan journalists in ethical reporting, gender representation, solutions journalism and newsroom uses of AI. Women’s Livelihoods: More than 80 women completed skills training at Kigali’s Agaseke Center, covering weaving, business creativity and women’s rights; the program has reached 125 women over three years. Food and Care: Rwanda’s milk bars are drawing visitors curious about the country’s distinctive milk-drinking culture. Meanwhile, a Kigali central kitchen serving hospital patients can prepare up to 15,000 tailored meals a day, and a new partnership has opened Rwanda’s first hearing diagnosis and rehabilitation centre. Responsible Tourism: A new assessment urges stronger enforcement of visitor rules and better guide training to protect mountain gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda.

Women’s Empowerment: More than 80 women completed training at Kigali’s Agaseke Center in business skills, weaving and women’s rights. The programme supports vulnerable groups and has reached 125 young women over three years. Rwandan Food Culture: Rwanda’s milk bars are drawing tourists curious about the country’s distinctive tradition of serving milk as a drink. Gorilla Tourism: A new assessment in Rwanda and Uganda urges better enforcement of visitor rules and guide training to protect mountain gorillas. While 95% of respondents had taken the Gorilla Friendly Pledge, only a third had shared it with tourists. Hearing Care: Rwanda’s First Lady and Morocco’s Princess Lalla Asmaa launched a new phase of their hearing-care partnership and inaugurated Rwanda’s first hearing diagnosis and rehabilitation centre.

Food Culture: Rwanda’s milk bars are drawing curious visitors keen to try the country’s distinctive milk-drinking tradition. Celebrity & Family: A Kigali court has ordered a DNA test in gospel singer Ishimwe Vestine’s divorce case, with samples from her infant to be sent from Canada for comparison. Local Voices: Cell-level voting is set for Saturday, with women required to make up at least 30% of cell councils. Hearing Care: Rwanda’s First Lady and Princess Lalla Asmaa launched a new phase of their hearing-care partnership and opened the country’s first hearing diagnosis and rehabilitation centre. Arts & Culture: A Toledo museum initiative has donated art books to the Koyo Kouoh Library in Kigali, with collections covering African art, criticism and museum education.

Farmers’ Skills: Rulindo cooperatives are sharing improved farming methods, with women saying greenhouse support has helped raise harvests, income and their role in household decisions. Regional Connections: Uganda Airlines’ new Entebbe–Accra service is expected to boost tourism and cultural exchange; the carrier plans to launch flights to Kigali on November 18. Hearing Care: Rwanda has joined Morocco’s hearing-health programme, with Princess Lalla Asmaa and First Lady Jeannette Kagame opening a Kigali diagnosis and rehabilitation centre for children and other patients. Tourism: The Rwanda Development Board is urging Eastern Province hospitality businesses to improve customer service, highlighting Akagera National Park and local cultural attractions. Arts and Culture: The Toledo Museum of Art donated about 100 books on African and diaspora art to Kigali’s Koyo Kouoh Library, with another donation planned for Ghana.

Hearing Care: Rwanda has opened its first hearing diagnosis and rehabilitation centre in Kigali, launched through a partnership between Morocco’s Lalla Asmaa Foundation and Imbuto Foundation. The programme also supported four Rwandan children who received surgery. Sport for Good: Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka shared the story of Biringiro, a 14-year-old Rwandan boy whose sight improved after treatment funded through charity BigShoe, as he accepted the Ballon d’Or’s Sócrates Award. Tourism: The Rwanda Development Board is urging Eastern Province hotels, guides and other tourism businesses to improve customer care, saying the welcome visitors receive matters as much as the attractions. Arts and Heritage: The Toledo Museum of Art has donated about 100 books on African and diasporic art to Kigali’s Koyo Kouoh Library, with a further donation planned for Ghana. Rwanda and China have also signed agreements on technical education and cultural heritage.

Hearing Care: Rwanda has opened its first hearing diagnosis and rehabilitation centre in Kigali through a partnership between Jeannette Kagame’s Imbuto Foundation and Morocco’s Lalla Asmaa Foundation. The new facility will support screening, treatment and rehabilitation, with four Rwandan children already receiving procedures through the programme. Sport and Social Impact: Arsenal star Bukayo Saka won the Ballon d’Or’s Sócrates Award for his charity work. He shared the story of Biringiro, a 14-year-old Rwandan boy whose sight improved after receiving care through BigShoe; the treatment has helped him return to school and dream of becoming a teacher. Formula One: Rwanda’s planned Grand Prix is drawing scrutiny over the country’s role in the regional conflict. Lewis Hamilton welcomed Formula One’s return to Africa but urged fans to approach Rwanda’s selection with humility and learn more about the continent’s history.

Hearing Care: Rwanda has joined Morocco’s “Together, We Hear Each Other Better” program, opening the country’s first hearing diagnosis and rehabilitation centre to support children and families. Food and Farming: Gatsibo will host Rwanda’s World Food Day celebration on October 30, with a focus on food security, nutrition and climate-resilient agriculture. Rwandan Cuisine: Kigali-based chef Dieuveil Malonga is the first African chef selected for Qatar Airways’ culinary collaboration programme, bringing African flavours to passengers on selected routes. Education and Heritage: Rwanda is developing a national education data centre to help identify school needs, while a new agreement with China covers technical education and cultural heritage. Community Impact: Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka received the Ballon d’Or Socrates Award and shared the story of a Rwandan boy whose sight was restored through charity support.

Food & Farming: Rwanda will mark World Food Day on October 30 in Gatsibo, showcasing ways to strengthen nutrition and food security, including fruit-tree planting and new livestock feed. Rwandan Cuisine: Kigali-based chef Dieuveil Malonga has become the first African chef chosen for Qatar Airways’ chef collaboration programme, bringing the continent’s culinary traditions to passengers. Cost of Living: Rwanda recorded Africa’s second-highest inflation rate in September at 17.2%, according to a new ranking. Education: Rwanda is developing a digital centre to help officials track school performance, spot students at risk of dropping out and target support. Sport & Tourism: Lewis Hamilton says Formula One’s planned Rwanda Grand Prix could keep him racing into his mid-40s; the event is expected in the early 2030s.

Anglican Church: Rwanda’s Anglican community installed the Most Revd Dr Manasseh Gahima as its fifth primate on Sunday, as Archbishop Mbanda retired after leading the church. Local Elections: Rwanda’s month-long vote began October 24, with residents electing village leaders and representatives to local and national councils; those elected will serve five-year terms. Formula One: Lewis Hamilton says the planned Rwanda Grand Prix could keep him racing into his mid-40s. He celebrated the chance to showcase African culture, while urging people to face human-rights concerns and the region’s conflicts with humility. Education and Technology: INES-Ruhengeri opened its academic year with a call for students to use AI responsibly, embracing its benefits without giving up sound judgement, ethics or constructive learning. HIV Care: A new call urges Rwanda to make mental-health support part of HIV care, noting that treatment success does not erase distress, stigma or other social challenges.

F1 & Culture: Lewis Hamilton says the planned Rwanda Grand Prix could keep him racing into his mid-40s and showcase Africa’s culture. He also urged humility and said human-rights concerns should not be ignored. Local Elections: Rwanda’s month-long polls began with village-level voting on October 24, with elections for higher local and national councils continuing through November. Youth Leadership: 72 top-performing secondary-school graduates joined the sixth cohort of the Equity Leaders Programme in Kigali. Education & AI: INES-Ruhengeri opened its academic year with a call for students to use AI responsibly, without losing their judgement or ethics.

Youth Leadership: Rwanda’s education minister commissioned 72 top-performing secondary-school graduates into the sixth cohort of the Equity Leaders Programme in Kigali. Graduation: Nearly 5,000 students earned degrees at the University of Rwanda’s ceremony in Kayonza, including a record 49 PhDs. F1 & Culture: Lewis Hamilton says the planned Rwanda Grand Prix could keep him racing into his mid-40s. He hopes the event will showcase Africa’s rich culture, while urging people not to overlook human-rights concerns and regional conflicts. Inclusive Education: Disability advocates urged families to ensure children with visual impairments can attend school, stressing that disability should not limit their opportunities. Responsible AI: INES-Ruhengeri urged students to use AI thoughtfully, balancing its benefits with sound judgement, ethics and effective learning.

F1 and African Culture: Lewis Hamilton welcomed Formula 1’s planned return to Rwanda, saying the continent’s rich culture deserves a global audience. He also urged humility over concerns about the host country and said the race could keep him competing into his mid-40s. Education: Nearly 5,000 University of Rwanda students graduated at Rukara Campus, including a record 49 PhDs. Disability advocates also urged families to ensure children with visual impairments—especially girls—have equal access to school. Film: Rwandan director Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo’s Ben’Imana, an intergenerational story about life after the 1994 genocide, opened this year’s Film Africa. Its Cannes selection marks a milestone for Rwandan cinema.

Culture & Sport: Lewis Hamilton says Formula 1’s planned return to Africa, with Rwanda set to host a Grand Prix in the early 2030s, could keep him racing longer. He praised the continent’s rich culture, while urging humility and saying human-rights concerns should not be ignored. Higher Education: The University of Rwanda celebrated 4,953 graduates at its first main ceremony at Rukara Campus, including a record 49 PhDs. Inclusive Learning: Disability advocates are urging families to send blind children to school and ensure they have the same opportunities to learn, with added support for girls with disabilities. Rwandan Cinema: Marie-Clémentine Dusabejambo’s Ben’Imana, a story of intergenerational reckoning after the Genocide against the Tutsi, opened Film Africa; it is the first film by a Rwandan director selected for Cannes’ official programme.