Senator Mukabalisa Donatille
In honor of the legacy of the late Senator Donatille Mukabalisa, her family has announced that instead of buying flowers for her funeral procession, well-wishers are being asked to donate money that will go toward supporting needy patients at the Butaro Cancer Center of Excellence.
In a public statement, the family asked friends, former colleagues, and everyone wishing to pay their respects to contribute funds that would otherwise have been spent on flowers. They said the gesture is meant to help patients who cannot afford treatment and to carry forward the spirit of generosity and compassion that defined Senator Mukabalisa’s life — a fitting tribute to a woman renowned for her humility and humanitarian spirit. It has been described as a way of turning mourning into hope for those in need.
Donatille Mukabalisa was a distinguished Rwandan lawyer and politician who served as Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies from 2013 to 2024. Born in Nyamata, Bugesera District, she dedicated her life to public service, law, and philanthropy until her passing at age 66 on July 30, 2026, at King Faisal Hospital.
Before entering politics, she spent 16 years working with United Nations agencies, including UNDP and the World Health Organization. She entered parliament in 2000 and went on to lecture in law at Kigali Independent University.
In 2011, she was appointed to the Senate, before leaving in 2013 to lead the Chamber of Deputies, where she became a powerful advocate for gender equality and legislative efficiency. In 2016, she made history as the first female Chairperson of the Liberal Party (PL).
After her tenure as Speaker ended, she was re-appointed to the Senate in September 2024, where she served until her death.
Senator Mukabalisa is set to be buried on Friday, August 7, 2026. A memorial gathering celebrating her life will take place the evening before, on Thursday, August 6, from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, her family’s request that donations go to underprivileged cancer patients at Butaro cements a legacy of selflessness and lifelong devotion to the Rwandan people.
