About the Ministry of ICT and Innovation

The Minister

Paula Ingabire

Minister of ICT & Innovation

Prior to her appointment, Minister Ingabire served as Head of the ICT Business Development Department of the Rwanda Development Board and Coordinator of the Kigali Innovation City Project. Minister Ingabire also worked as the Smart Africa coordinator, an initiative that seeks to leverage broadband infrastructure to drive Africa’s socio- economic growth. She is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s School of Engineering & Sloan School of Management, in System Design and Management and holds a BS in Computer Engineering and Information Technology from the former Kigali Institute of Science and Technology.

Minister of State

Yves Iradukunda

Minister of State

Prior to his appointment as Minister of State, Iradukunda served as the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of ICT and Innovation from 2020 to 2025. He joined the public service from the Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropy, where he was the Rwanda Country Director. Before that, he worked as a Senior Director at MASS Design Group, a global design firm with offices in the United States and Kigali, where he oversaw operations across international offices and coordinated design and construction projects.

Driven by a passion for entrepreneurial innovation, Iradukunda began his career at Bridge2Rwanda as a professional career advisor, focusing on talent development, placement, and mentorship for young scholars. During this time, he also helped launch and manage a startup and other youth-focused initiatives.

He holds an MBA from the African Leadership University School of Business and a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Computer Science from Oklahoma Christian University.

Permanent Secretary

Eraste Rurangwa

Permanent Secretary

Eraste Rurangwa was appointed Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of ICT and Innovation in September 2025. Prior to this role, he served at the National Cyber Security Authority (NCSA) for over four years, where he was the Head of the Data Protection Office and Rwanda’s Country Focal Point for the ITU Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI). He also served as a member of the ITU GCI Expert Group, contributing to global cybersecurity assessments and policy frameworks.

Before joining NCSA, Rurangwa worked as a Software Developer and Project Manager at WiredIn Rwanda. He began his career in software development with Rexvirt Communications in Tokyo, Japan, and previously held various roles in data management and coordination in Rwanda’s public and private sectors.

Rurangwa holds a Master of Science in Information Systems from the Kobe Institute of Computing in Japan and a Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Communication from Periyar University, India. He also earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Applications from Arun Info Tech.

Ministry Officials

Fiacre Mushimire Niyigena

Director General, Future Planning

Fiacre has over 15 years’ experience in emerging technologies policy and their regulatory environment, with a focus on designing web and mobile solutions/tools around maps, payment and coordination, as well as Mobile Money standardisation, security and vulnerabilities.

Before joining MINICT, Fiacre served Cenfri as Policy Support Lead. In this position, he worked alongside policymakers to adapt and design policies and interventions to support inclusive digitalisation based on the on-going data discovery and analysis. In addition, Fiacre served as Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA)’s Senior Manager in charge of Technology Innovation. Some of his major responsibilities included the establishment of relevant regulatory frameworks for smooth integration of emerging technologies, applications, and services on Rwanda market, promotion of Innovations through regulations that encourage local innovators, and new business models with the ability to test them.

Esther Kunda

Director General, Innovation & Emerging Technologies

Before joining the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, Esther Kunda was the Policy, Innovation and Community of Scientists Manager at the Next Einstein Forum. She managed the development of NEF policy initiatives and worked closely with the NEF Community of Scientists on science engagement activities such as the NEF Africa Science Week across Africa.

Before joining NEF, she was at Intel as Education Support Manager and as product development for Tigo Rwanda. She has experience in product development, business strategy, policy and innovation.

She holds a Masters in Science in Information Technology from Carnegie Mellon University and Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from KIST.

Maurice Kajangwe Haesen

Acting Director General, Digital Transformation

Maurice Kajangwe Haesen is the Acting Director General of the Digital Transformation Directorate General, supporting Rwanda’s efforts to advance secure, inclusive, and effective digital transformation across government.

He is a technology and digital policy leader with over a decade of experience in information technology, cybersecurity, privacy, and data protection in the public sector. Prior to his current role, he served as Senior Technologist for Privacy and Data Protection and Senior Cybersecurity Engineer at the Ministry of ICT and Innovation, where he spearheaded national cybersecurity and data protection policies, strategies, and standards, while building strong partnerships with national and international stakeholders. Earlier in his career, he served as Network Manager at the Rwanda Cooperative Agency, focusing on digital infrastructure and stakeholder collaboration to strengthen digital resilience.

He holds a Master’s degree in Information Technology (First Class) from the University of Madras and a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Distinction) from the National University of Rwanda. He also holds several professional certifications, including CISSP, CCNP, PMP, CEH, and PRINCE2.

Best employee of the year 2024/2025

Marcel Sebahire

Digital Convergence Senior Technologist

Mr. Marcel Sebahire is the best professional and ethical employee of the year 2025