Strengthening Pathways into Public Service: AL for Governance Visits Umholi We Africa Fellows in Rwanda

In August 2026, African Leadership Academy leaders visited Umholi We Africa Fellows placed across three Rwandan government ministries, engaging Fellows and their host institutions on their contributions, learning and the value of creating meaningful pathways for young African leaders into public service.

As part of its continued engagement with Fellows and employer partners, African Leadership Academy (ALA), through the AL for Governance Network, recently conducted a series of visits to government institutions hosting Umholi We Africa Fellows in Rwanda.

The visits brought together Val Wiggett and Barnabas Usman, Directors at African Leadership Academy, with Fellows and senior leaders from the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC), Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF), and Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA).

Beyond checking in on the progress of individual placements, the engagements provided an important opportunity to hear directly from host institutions about the value Fellows are bringing to their teams, understand the Fellows’ experiences working within government, and explore how ALA can continue strengthening its partnerships with public institutions.

Supporting Rwanda’s Education Agenda at MINEDUC

On 24 August, the ALA team visited the Ministry of Education, where they were received by Permanent Secretary Charles Karakye, alongside PS Advisor Agnes Mbabazi and Umholi We Africa Fellows Theoneste Niyomushumba and Larissa Keza.

The discussion reflected on the Fellows’ experience within the Ministry and the contributions they have made to its education agenda.

Permanent Secretary Karakye shared his positive experience working with the Fellows and expressed appreciation for their contribution to the Ministry. Theoneste and Larissa similarly reflected on the opportunity to learn directly from the Ministry’s leadership and gain practical experience working within a public institution.

The engagement reinforced the value of a Fellowship model that creates opportunities for emerging leaders to contribute to government priorities while learning from experienced public servants and understanding the realities of institutional leadership from within.

From Policy to Community Engagement at MIGEPROF

At the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, Val and Barnabas met with Permanent Secretary Mireille Batamuliza and Umholi We Africa Fellow Germaine Uzayisenga.

The Permanent Secretary reflected positively on the placement and highlighted the importance of the preparation that took place before Germaine joined the Ministry. Early communication and documentation between ALA and MIGEPROF enabled the Ministry to prepare for her arrival and supported a smooth onboarding process.

While MIGEPROF is a relatively small Ministry, its mandate carries a significant workload. The Permanent Secretary therefore welcomed both Germaine’s contribution and the broader value of creating opportunities for young leaders to work within public institutions.

Germaine’s placement has exposed her to different dimensions of the Ministry’s work. She has contributed to policy and report reviews, meeting documentation, family visits and Umugoroba w’Imiryango activities, social media content development, and communications supporting the campaign against drug and substance abuse. She has also introduced weekly educational content through a LinkedIn newsletter.

The visit also created space to discuss Germaine’s Fellowship experience more broadly. Having participated remotely in ALA’s pre-service onboarding, she reflected on the difference between accessing the content virtually and the relationship-building that happens through an in-person experience.

She has since connected with Theoneste, an experienced Umholi We Africa Fellow, who shared lessons from his own Fellowship journey and practical advice on making the most of the opportunity, demonstrating the value of peer learning within the growing Fellowship community.

Bringing technology and public service together at MININFRA

The visit to the Ministry of Infrastructure highlighted another dimension of what young leaders can contribute to government: the intersection between technology, digital transformation, and public service.

The Umholi We Africa Fellow placed at MININFRA is contributing to Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence initiatives, bringing together experience in technology, engineering, and leadership to consider how government systems can become more efficient, responsive, and citizen-centered.

During the visit, Val and Barnabas met with Romalice Ishimwe, Chief Digital Officer at MININFRA, to discuss the Ministry’s digital transformation journey, the Fellow’s experience and contribution, and the role that young professionals can play in strengthening technology-enabled public institutions.

The placement demonstrates the expanding range of skills required within contemporary public service. As governments navigate digital transformation and emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, developing leaders who can bridge technical

expertise with an understanding of institutions and public purpose will become increasingly important.

Building a pipeline for public leadership

Across all three visits, a common message emerged: young leaders need meaningful opportunities to experience public service from within.

For ALA, the Umholi We Africa Fellowship is not simply about placing talented young people into institutions. It is about developing a pipeline of leaders who understand how public institutions work, can contribute meaningfully to their priorities, and are equipped to pursue long-term careers in governance and public leadership.

Host institutions are central to making that possible. Their willingness to provide Fellows with substantive responsibilities, mentorship and exposure allows Fellows to move beyond observing government to actively contributing to its work.

The Rwanda visits also provided ALA with valuable feedback on how the Fellowship can continue improving from onboarding and Fellow support to employer engagement and opportunities for Fellows to learn from one another.

ALA and the AL for Governance Network extend their appreciation to the leadership and teams at MINEDUC, MIGEPROF and MININFRA for their continued trust, mentorship and partnership.

As the Umholi We Africa Fellowship continues to grow, these partnerships remain fundamental to our ambition of building a generation of young African leaders equipped not only to imagine stronger public institutions, but to contribute to building them.