Umwiherero has played key role in Rwanda’s socio-economic transformation - Analysts say

Political Analysts have reiterated the importance of the National Leadership Retreat, saying that the forum has played a key role in the country’s socio-economic transformation as well as achieving the vision 2020.

In 2004, President Paul Kagame inaugurated the first National Leadership Retreat, where leaders from different government institutions came together to assess their progress and hold each other accountable for what did not go right. 

Hailed as one of Rwanda’s Home Grown Solutions, the National Leadership Retreat is held annually and generates resolutions on the country’s key priority areas.

According to researcher and political analyst Fredrick Goloba Mutebi, most government institutions in many countries tend to work in isolation, but forums like the leadership retreat help to unite leaders and give them a common understanding of the work that needs to be done.

John Bosco Nyemazi, the Executive Secretary of the Rwanda Civil Society Platform has observed that the National Leadership Retreat has yielded tangible benefits, especially to citizens.

Every year, key resolutions are adopted from the Leadership Retreat. According to the CEO of the Rwanda Governance Board, Usta Kaitesi, over 70% of these resolutions have been implemented.

An analysis by the Rwanda Governance Board of the National Leadership Retreat between 2004 and 2015, shows that a total of 299 resolutions were taken during the 12 leadership meetings held during that period, with 30% of them being on social affairs, 35% on the economy, 29% on Governance and 6% on the Justice sector.

The 17th National Leaders Retreat is set to begin on Saturday the 15th of this month of February.