High Commissioner Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye and Mdm Pacifique Mukaseti host a farewell reception at Raffles Place, reflecting on strengthened Rwanda–Singapore ties.

SINGAPORE, 16 June 2025 – H.E. Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye, Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Singapore, and Mdm Pacifique Mukaseti hosted a farewell lunch at Raffles Place to mark the conclusion of his diplomatic mission. The event brought together members of the diplomatic corps and close associates in a warm and memorable gathering.

The Dean of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps, H.E. Agustin Garcia-Lopez Loaeza, Ambassador of Mexico to Singapore, delivered the farewell speech. He praised High Commissioner Uwihanganye for his role in deepening bilateral cooperation and for advancing key partnerships between Rwanda and Singapore. He noted the similarities between both nations in safety and cleanliness, citing that Singaporeans who have visited Rwanda often speak of its welcoming environment. He commended Rwanda’s journey of transformation and reconciliation, framing it as a national strength that the High Commissioner embodied in his diplomatic work.

Diplomatic relations between Rwanda and Singapore were formally established on 18 March 2005, and have since evolved into a multifaceted partnership. The establishment of Rwanda’s High Commission in Singapore in 2008 marked a turning point in bilateral engagement. Over the years, the two nations have signed several foundational agreements, including the Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement (2014, amended in 2024), a Bilateral Investment Treaty, and most recently, the Carbon Credits Collaboration Agreement signed in May 2025 under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement—Singapore’s first such agreement with an East African country.

High Commissioner Uwihanganye played a central role in these developments. His tenure saw increased bilateral exchanges and high-level engagements, including the September 2024 visit of Rwandan President Paul Kagame to Singapore, where he met with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. These discussions explored cooperation in fintech, the digital economy, and water resilience.

Before his diplomatic role, High Commissioner Uwihanganye served as Rwanda’s Minister of State in charge of Transport. A civil engineer by training, he holds a first-class honours degree in Civil Engineering from the National University of Rwanda and a Master’s in Construction Project Management from the University of Manchester. His background in infrastructure and academia informed his collaborative and technical approach to diplomacy.

Ambassador Garcia-Lopez emphasised that beyond agreements and statistics, the High Commissioner fostered genuine friendship and mutual respect between both nations. “While Rwanda will undoubtedly welcome him back with open arms,” he said, “Singapore and the diplomatic community will miss him.”

As High Commissioner Uwihanganye departs, he leaves behind a record of active engagement, future-oriented cooperation, and strengthened institutional ties. The farewell gathering concluded with warm wishes from colleagues, with hopes that the bridges built during his term will continue to connect Rwanda and Singapore.

Source: Embassy of Mexico