Jean Damascene Ntawukuriryayo

Who is Jean Damascene Ntawukuriryayo?

Jean Damascene Ntawukuriryayo is a Rwandan politician is a Rwandan politician and the former Minister of Health in the Rwandan government. He is currently the President of the Senate in Parliament in Rwanda since October 2011, and has also served as Vice-President of the Chamber of Deputies. Ntawukuriryayo ran for 2010 Rwandan presidential elections, where he failed, and Paul Kagame was re-elected with more than 90% of votes.

Ntawukuriryayo was born in Runyinya, Rwanda. He earned a B.A. in pharmacy from the National University of Rwanda and a Ph.D. in pharmaceutical technology from Ghent University, Belgium. From 1997 to 1999, he was Vice Rector in charge of Administration and Finance at the National University of Rwanda. He was appointed as Minister of State in charge of Higher Education and Scientific Research in 1999. Later he was appointed Minister of Infrastructure.

In November 2002, Ntawukuliryayo was appointed to be Minister of Infrastructure in the Rwandan government; he served also as Minister of State responsible for higher education. On September 28, 2004, he was appointed to be Minister of Health. During his tenure in that position, he expanded the social security system to cover over 80% of the population. In 2008 he was elected as Vice-President of the Rwandan National Assembly.