Senior Management

Director General

Claudine Marie Solange NYINAWAGAGA

Director General

Mrs. Nyinawagaga Claudine is an accomplished economist and development executive with about 35 years of distinguished career experience, including over two decades dedicated to social protection, community development, and family strengthening.

Currently serving as the Director General of the Local Administrative Entities Development Agency (LODA), Mrs. Nyinawagaga leads strategic initiatives aimed at empowering local communities across Rwanda. Prior to her current appointment, she championed child welfare and family stability as the National Director for SOS Children’s Villages and as Country Director for Hope and Homes for Children. Her extensive leadership portfolio also includes impactful public service as the former Mayor of Gasabo District in the City of Kigali.

An economist by training, Mrs. Nyinawagaga holds a Master of Social Sciences in Gender Studies from the University of Rwanda, combining robust analytical expertise with a deep commitment to inclusive social development.

Heads of Divisions

Pascal GASHUMBA

Division Manager of Local Government Strategic Planning Division

Pascal GASHUMBA

Maurice NSABIBARUTA

Division Manager of Community Development & Strategy Coordination Division

Maurice NSABIBARUTA

Mr. Nsabibaruta Maurice is the Division Manager for Community Development Strategy and Coordination at the Local Administrative Entities Development Agency (LODA) since cabinet appointment in May 2024.

He brings over a decade of experience from the Ministry of Local Government, where he specialized in planning, monitoring, and evaluation of decentralization and social protection policies and strategies. His career journey also includes experience in the education sector and within Non-Governmental Organizations, enriching his multidisciplinary perspective on development work. Maurice has extensive expertise in coordinating stakeholders across both central and local government institutions, particularly in the planning and implementation of programs and projects. Throughout his career, he has held several senior and managerial roles in both central and local government, where he has played a key role in the successful development and implementation of policies and strategies aligned with national priorities.

In his current role, he leads the coordination and management of community development programs and projects, with a strong vision of strengthening local economic development and advancing social protection initiatives to achieve socio-economic transformation of communities. He oversees the day-to-day management of both domestically and multi-donor funded programs, working closely with stakeholders across government institutions and development partners throughout all stages of the project cycle.

Mr. Nsabibaruta holds a Master’s degree in Development Studies and has received multiple awards in recognition of his exemplary and outstanding performance. He is ICDL Certified and has also completed various professional certified trainings at both national and international levels, further strengthening his expertise across multiple domains.

Elise SEHUKU

Division Manager of Corporate Services

Elise SEHUKU

Mrs. SEHUKU Elise is a distinguished senior executive with over two decades of dedicated service in Rwanda’s public sector, specializing in Public Financial Management (PFM), strategic resource allocation, and institutional governance.

Throughout her career, Mrs. Elise has been instrumental in driving financial accountability and operational excellence within key government institutions, namely:

(i) Division Manager of Corporate Services, LODA (2014 – Present): Leads the institutional financial, Logistics and administrative operations at the Local Administrative Entities Development Agency (LODA). In this role, she oversees large-scale budgetary frameworks, ensures compliance with national financial regulations, and optimizes corporate services to support local development and social protection programs nationwide.

(ii) Director of Finance, Ministry of Internal Affairs (2003 – 2014): Served as the chief financial custodian for the Ministry, managing complex national security and internal affairs budgets. She successfully spearheaded financial planning, audit compliance, and resource management strategies that strengthened the ministry's fiscal integrity during a transformative era in Rwanda's public administration.

With a proven track record spanning more than 20 years, Mrs. Elise is recognized for her strategic vision in aligning financial management with national development goals, fostering transparency, and building robust institutional frameworks.

Mrs. SEHUKU is holder of a Masters Business Administration (MBA) with specialization in Accounting from the Mount Kenya University and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Management from the University of Rwanda.

Unit Heads and Project Coordinators

Adolphe KAYIGI

Director of Local Economic Development Unit

Adolphe KAYIGI

Mr. Adolphe KAYIGI is the Director of Local Economic Development Unit at the LocalAdministrative Entities Development Agency (LODA). Since November 2017 to June 2021, he also served as Director of the Planning Unit, reflecting his extensive experience and leadership in development planning, programme coordination, and local economic transformation. Mr. KAYIGI has a vast professional experience spanning the public sector, telecommunications industry, education, and community development.

Prior to his current role at LODA, Mr. KAYIGI served as Planning, M&E officer at the National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) from 2014 to 2017. Before joining NCPD, he worked with Rwandatel Ltd from 2004 to 2013 as a Regional Sales Executive. In this position, he was responsible for sales management, market expansion, customer relations, and business development.

Earlier in his career, he served as member of Ngoma District Council from 2006 to 2011, at the same time being Coordinator of National Youth Council at District level.

Mr. KAYIGI Adolphe holds a Bachelor's Degree in Economics and a Certificate of Completion of a Master's Program in Project Management from Mount Kigali University.

Jean Claude RWAHAMA

Director of Social Protection Unit

Jean Claude RWAHAMA

Mr. RWAHAMA Jean Claude is a political scientist with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the former National University of Rwanda (Current UR). With more than 19 years of professional experience, he has developed a strong expertise in Social Protection, Humanitarian Affairs, and Community Development.

Mr. RWAHAMA currently serves as the Director of Social Protection at the Local Administrative Entities Development Agency (LODA). Previously he led the Vision 2020 Umurenge Programme (VUP) Unit at the same institution since 2019. Prior to this position, he held several senior positions in refugee affairs and community development within government institutions, including the former Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs (MIDIMAR), the Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC), among others.

Throughout his career, Jean Claude has proven an outstanding experience in coordinating humanitarian responses and supporting the implementation of Rwanda’s social protection and poverty reduction programmes.

Jean Marie MATABARO

Ag. Coordinator of Single Project Implementation Unit (SPIU)

Jean Marie MATABARO

Geofrey BIZIMUNGU

Programme Manager of Exiting Poverty & Social Protection Transformation Programme

Geofrey BIZIMUNGU

Moses RUTAYISIRE

Project Manager of Village Model Project (VMP)

Moses RUTAYISIRE

Mr. RUTAYISIRE Moses is the Project Manager of the Village Model Project (VMP), he supports the coordination, implementation, and monitoring of integrated community development interventions aimed at promoting local economic development through job creation at village level. With over ten years of experience across both the public and private sectors, he has built strong expertise in program management, local economic development, and private sector engagement.

Prior to joining LODA, Moses worked with the Private Sector Federation (PSF) in various roles, including Project Coordinator and Executive Director of the Tourism Chamber, where he supported private sector development, tourism promotion, investment facilitation, and stakeholder engagement.

At LODA, he has also contributed to the implementation of key programs such as the Local Competitiveness Facility (LCF) and the Nyabarongo Ecosystem Rehabilitation Project, working closely with government institutions, development partners, and local authorities to ensure effective delivery and results-based management.

Mr. RUTAYISIRE holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of East London and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration (Finance) from the University of Rwanda.

Placidie UWAMARIYA

Project Manager of Pro-poor Basket Fund Project

Placidie UWAMARIYA

Mrs. UWAMARIYA Placidie is the Project Manager of the Basket Funding for Pro-Poor Development (PPD-Basket) (April 2025 – Present) at the Local Administrative Entities Development Agency (LODA). In this role, she oversees a multi-donor basket fund (financed by AFD, KfW, and LuxDev) aimed at supporting inclusive, gender-sensitive infrastructure investments across 16 districts in Rwanda. Her duties cover comprehensive project management functions, environmental and social safeguards coordination, and serving as the focal point for steering committees, audits, and development partners.

Before joining LODA, Placidie worked as Director of Finance at Nyaruguru District (2019 – April 2025): She led the district's entire finance function, advising leadership, managing annual and medium-term budgets (MTEF), and ensuring strict compliance with public finance laws. She also coordinated financial reporting for various externally funded projects. Under her financial leadership, Nyaruguru District successfully advanced from receiving adverse audit opinions to achieving unqualified (clean) audit opinions. Prior to this position, Mrs. UWAMARIYA served as Cashier at Banque Populaire du Rwanda SA (January 2010 – December 2016).

Mrs. UWAMARIYA holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance as well as a Master’s degree in Finance. She is a seasoned professional in project and finance management, with a background spanning banking, public and private sector financial management, and multi-donor funded development programs. She has got specialized training in Project Management Professional (PMP) principles and methodologies.

Throughout her career, Placidie demonstrated exceptional skills and competencies in the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS). She possesses deep knowledge of government legal frameworks concerning public finance management, procurement, planning, and public service regulations. Her core competencies include project integration, governance, risk management, performance monitoring, and stakeholder engagement.