The Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF) is pleased to welcome Dr Odette Uwizeye as the newly appointed Chair of the Commonwealth Women in Local Government Network (ComWLG). A distinguished Rwandan leader whose journey spans local government, national policy research and academic governance, Dr Uwizeye brings a powerful combination of experience, purpose and commitment to gender equality.

Serving communities

Her leadership journey began with a deep desire to serve communities and ensure that the voices of citizens, especially women and marginalised groups, inform the decisions that shape their lives. This motivation has guided her through a career built across several sectors and distinguishes her within the Commonwealth.

A rare leadership profile across three sectors

Dr Uwizeye has accumulated wide experience in local government, academia and national research institutions. She serves as Chairperson of the Rwanda Association of Local Government Authorities (RALGA) and Chairperson of Rusizi District Council in the Western Province. Her earlier service as Councillor and Secretary of the Kicukiro District Council in Kigali City gave her practical experience in both urban and rural settings.

In academia, she is the Academic Registrar at the University of Rwanda and has held senior roles in the former School of Finance and Banking, the College of Business and Economics and the College of Education. Her qualifications include a PhD in Strategic Management and master’s degrees in Project Management and Banking. She has completed training in Corporate Governance, Leadership Development and the Gender and Economic Policy Management Initiative (GEPMI) sponsored by UN Women.

She also served more than ten years on the Board of Directors of the Institute of Policy Analysis and Research in Rwanda (IPAR Rwanda), including seven as Vice Chairperson and three as Chairperson. During this period, she played a central role in coordinating the annual Performance Appraisal of Districts and Kigali City. The appraisal, later conducted jointly with the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda, strengthened accountability and evidence-based decision making across the decentralisation system.

This combination of local political leadership, national policy influence and academic governance gives her a uniquely comprehensive understanding of how systems work together to support sustainable development.

Championing development from the ground up

Dr Uwizeye has shaped Rwanda’s local development planning through her role in preparing and implementing District Development Strategies (DDS) in both Kicukiro and Rusizi. DDS translates Rwanda’s national priorities, including Vision 2050 and the National Strategy for Transformation, into district level plans that reflect local needs. Her work reflects a firm belief that national development must be grounded in community centred, citizen driven action.

A committed advocate for women and girls

Throughout her career, Dr Uwizeye has championed opportunities for women and girls. As Chairperson of the Scholars Recruitment Committee for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Rwanda, she oversees the selection of students of whom 70 percent are girls from low-income backgrounds. The programme helps cultivate a new generation of female leaders.

Her GEPMI training strengthened her understanding of the economic dimensions of gender equality and deepened her commitment to addressing structural barriers to women’s empowerment. She speaks openly about the significant responsibilities women balance across home, work and community life, and how these shape their access to leadership opportunities. Her personal experience navigating these pressures informs the empathy and credibility she brings to ComWLG.

Role models and Rwanda’s enabling environment

Dr Uwizeye credits Rwanda’s strong gender responsive frameworks for enabling many women to enter leadership. The country’s supportive constitution, legal protections, anti-violence measures and high political commitment have made Rwanda a global leader in women’s representation.

She draws particular inspiration from President Paul Kagame, who has consistently championed gender equality and placed women at the heart of national transformation. She also cites fellow women leaders across Rwanda whose achievements demonstrate that leadership capabilities are shared across society.

Priorities for her term as Chair

Dr Uwizeye enters her role with a clear and ambitious agenda for ComWLG. Her priorities include:

• supporting newly elected women to lead effectively
• creating internship and training pathways for young women aspiring to public roles
• advocating for gender responsive laws, including minimum quotas
• encouraging political parties and local government associations to embed gender perspectives in their work
• promoting the localisation of Sustainable Development Goal 5
• expanding digital access and skills for women
• strengthening peer learning and knowledge exchange across the Commonwealth

She views ComWLG as a strategic platform that can influence political systems and help build an inclusive governance landscape.

A message of boldness and purpose

To women across the Commonwealth, Dr Uwizeye’s message is centred on courage, excellence and service. She encourages women to invest in their growth, uplift one another and challenge limiting norms. Her greatest wish is for women everywhere to gain true economic empowerment combined with strong legal protection from gender-based violence. She sees these as essential conditions for full participation in political life.

As she begins her term, Dr Uwizeye brings not only experience and vision but a steadfast commitment to strengthening women’s leadership and building a more inclusive Commonwealth.

More information on the Commonwealth Women in Local Government Network (ComWLG) can be found on our website, or from the Senior Programme Officer - Networks, Ms Janine Xavier-Cross.