On Friday, May 15^th, 2025, staff at the Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA) came together to bid farewell to their outgoing Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Mrs. Jane BATETA, and to warmly welcome her replacement, Mrs. Francine UWANYIRIGIRA. The event was attended by all staff including Chief Digital Officers (CDOs and Business Analysts. It was a special moment to reflect on RISA’s past achievements and look forward to a future of continued progress and good financial practices.

In his opening remarks, the CEO highlighted the critical role Mrs. Bateta played during her tenure since 2019. "Thanks to Jane's unwavering commitment to transparency, discipline, and accountability, RISA has proudly maintained a clean audit report for three consecutive years," he stated. "Her work set a benchmark for financial governance that reflects our institution’s values and vision." These clean audits are proof of strong leadership and teamwork across the institution. The CEO reminded everyone that such results only happen when people follow the right procedures, work together, and stay focused on shared goals.

In her speech, Mrs. Bateta spoke with emotion and gratitude as she looked back on her time at RISA. She said the work was challenging, but it was made possible by the support of the top management, the dedication of her team, and a strong culture of following procedures. She thanked her colleagues for their hard work and cooperation over the years. She also said that getting clean audits was not just about numbers, it showed the good habits, discipline, and shared values of everyone at RISA. She encouraged the staff to continue upholding these values in the years to come.

The new CFO, Mrs. Francine Uwanyirigira, also shared a few words during the event. She thanked everyone for the warm welcome and said she was honored to take on the role. She further recognized the strong foundation laid by her predecessor and promised to continue working with the same level of dedication and responsibility. She asked for the staff’s support and cooperation as she begins her new journey at RISA. She reminded everyone that respecting procedures and working as a team would help the institution keep its positive record and achieve even more.  

“I am honored to step into this role; I commit to working closely with each of you to ensure that we continue on this trajectory of financial excellence. I ask for your cooperation, diligence, and above all, respect for procedures, because that is what keeps our systems strong and our mission on track.” Mrs. Francine said. 

The event was not just a farewell or a welcome. It was a celebration of RISA’s commitment to professionalism and its strong systems of financial management. It showed how leadership changes can be smooth when there is a culture of accountability and teamwork. With the new CFO bringing new ideas and energy, and with the good example set by the former CFO, RISA is ready to move forward with confidence.

As the organization continues to lead Rwanda’s digital transformation, its commitment to good financial governance remains just as important. The staff expressed their readiness to work together, keep following procedures, and ensure that RISA remains a trusted and successful public institution.