Muhanga, Rwanda – March 14, 2025.
Over 30 journalism educators from four leading universities in Rwanda gathered in Muhanga for the inaugural Annual General Assembly marking the official launch of the Rwanda Journalism Educators Network (RJEN).
The event brought together lecturers and journalism trainers from the University of Rwanda (UR), Mount Kigali University (MKU), East African University Rwanda (EAUR), and the Catholic Institute of Kabgayi (ICK). The assembly served as a platform to adopt the association’s statutes and internal regulations, formally transitioning the network from its interim phase to a structured professional body.
In a key highlight of the day, members elected the network’s first substantive executive committee, replacing the interim team that had been steering RJEN since September 2024. The newly elected leaders are:
- President: Uwimana Jean-Pierre (UR)
- Vice-President 1: Andrew Onsongo (EAUR)
- Vice-President 2: Joyce Kirabo (MKU)
- Secretary: Jeanne d’Arc Mukamana (UR)
- Treasurer: Hategekimana Jean Baptiste (ICK)
Additional Conflict Resolution and Audit Committees were also instituted to enhance governance and transparency within the association.
The event’s chief guest, Mr. Paul Paul Rapacioli, Director of FOJO Media Institute, praised the initiative as a landmark achievement in Rwanda’s media development journey.
“The formation of RJEN is a powerful step toward professionalizing journalism education in Rwanda,” Mr. Rapacioli said. “It will foster collaboration, enhance academic standards, and contribute meaningfully to the growth of quality journalism.”
The newly elected president Rev Jean Pierre Uwimana thanked the members for the confidence and trust they bestowed in him and the entire elected executive committee and urged them to give their support to the leadership to achieve goals of the association.
“Do not be left behind nor go ahead of us. Move with us every step’ urged Rev Uwimana
Other dignitaries present included FOJO Rwanda Country Director Anneli Frank, EAUR Vice Chancellor Prof. Callixte Kabera, UR-CASS Principal Alphonse Mulefu, and Rwanda Media Commission (RMC) Secretary General Emmanuel Mugisha among others.
RJEN in Rwanda becomes only the third known such similar national networks across the African continent with others being the Ethiopian journalism Educators Network (#EJEN), Zimbabwe Journalism Educators Network (#ZIJEN). At the continental level, there exists the African Journalism Education Network (#AJEN) that operates continent-wide, connecting journalism educators and practitioners across Africa.
The Rwanda Journalism Educators Network is expected to play a pivotal role in promoting excellence in journalism education, fostering inter-institutional collaboration, and influencing media training policy and curriculum development.
