Bernard Makuza (born 30 September 1962) is a Rwandan politician who was

Prime Minister of Rwanda This article lists the prime ministers of Rwanda since the formation of the post in 1961 (during the Rwandan Revolution), to the present day. The prime minister of Rwanda is the head of government of the Republic of Rwanda. The prime minister ...

from 8 March 2000 to 6 October 2011. He also served as President of the

Senate of Rwanda The upper house of the Parliament of Rwanda ( rw, Inteko Ishinga Amategeko; french: Parlement) is the Senate (''Sena''/''Sénat''). The Senate has 26 members elected or appointed for eight-year terms: 12 elected by provincial councils, eight appoi ...

from 14 October 2014 to 17 October 2019.

Background

Makuza's father was Anastase Makuza, who served as a minister during

Grégoire Kayibanda Grégoire Kayibanda (1 May 192415 December 1976) was a Rwandan politician and revolutionary who was the first elected President of Rwanda from 1962 to 1973. An ethnic Hutu, he was a pioneer of the Rwandan Revolution and led Rwanda's struggle fo ...

's presidency. Like his father, Bernard Makuza attended

Saint Léon Minor Seminary of Kabgayi St Léon Minor Seminary of Kabgayi is a Catholic church minor seminary located in Kabgayi, Southern province of Rwanda. The school is owned by Kabgayi Diocese of Catholic Church of Rwanda. Established in 1913, the seminary is the oldest formal sc ...

Career

Makuza was a member of the

Republican Democratic Movement The Republican Democratic Movement (french: Mouvement démocratique républicain, MDR) was a political party in Rwanda. History The party was established in 1991,

(MDR) before the party was dissolved on 14 April 2003 because of its history of promoting genocide ideology. Makuza resigned his membership in the MDR before being appointed Prime Minister. In 2006, during his term as Prime Minister, Makuza identified as belonging to no party.

Prime Minister

Makuza was the Rwandan Ambassador to Burundi and then Ambassador to

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

before being appointed as Prime Minister in March 2000. His appointment to the latter post by President

Pasteur Bizimungu Pasteur Bizimungu (born April 1950) is a Rwandan politician who served as the third President of Rwanda, holding office from 19 July 1994 until 23 March 2000. A Hutu, Bizimungu had previously held several positions under President Juvenal Habyar ...

followed the resignation of Prime Minister

Pierre-Célestin Rwigema Pierre-Célestin Rwigema (born 27 July 1953) is a Rwandan politician previously associated with the moderate faction of the Republican Democratic Movement (MDR) party. He was Prime Minister of Rwanda from 1995 to 2000 and Education Minister fro ...

, who had been heavily criticized in the Rwandan press and by some parliamentarians. Makuza remained at the head of a new government named on March 8, 2008, which was composed of 21 ministers and six secretaries of state.

Senate

On 6 October 2011, President Kagame appointed

Pierre Habumuremyi Pierre-Damien Habumuremyi (born 20 February 1961) is a Rwandan politician who served as Prime Minister of Rwanda from 7 October 2011 until 24 July 2014. He previously served as Minister of Education from May 2011 to October 2011. Early life ...

to replace Makuza as Prime Minister. Makuza was instead appointed to the Senate. In the Senate, Makuza served as Vice-President for Legislation and Government Oversight. He was subsequently elected as President of the Senate, with 25 out of 26 votes in favor and no opposing candidate, and sworn in on 14 October 2014.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Makuza, Bernard 1962 births Living people People from Butare Hutu people Republican Democratic Movement politicians Prime Ministers of Rwanda Presidents of the Senate (Rwanda) Ambassadors of Rwanda to Germany Ambassadors of Rwanda to Burundi