Barbara AKALIZA

Ms Barbara is the Chief Geo-Hazard Officer at the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB), where she leads national efforts in geohazard risk assessment, early warning systems, and disaster resilience. Her office coordinates the monitoring and mitigation of geological hazards such as landslides, earthquakes, and volcanic activity, contributing to climate adaptation and sustainable land use.

Barbara previously held leadership roles including Executive Manager for ABridge in Benin and Togo, Business Development Consultant for Right Seat in Rwanda and Board Member for Ngororero Mining Company. Her earlier technical experience includes working for NRD Rwanda and BRGM in France.

Barbara holds a Master’s degree in Geology and Environmental Engineering from Université Paris Sud XI and a Bachelor’s degree in Geology from Université Blaise Pascal. She is fluent in Kinyarwanda, French, and English.

Innocent SAFARI

Innocent SAFARI was appointed Chief Financial Officer of Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB) in November 2017.  Prior to his appointment, he was the National Coordinator of Northern Corridor Integration Projects (NCIP) in the Office of the President.  He has held various senior positions some of which include the following:

He served as the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade, Industry & East African Community Affairs from October 2016 to February 2017.  He also was the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of East African Community (MINEAC) from 2013 to October 2016.

Innocent SAFARI holds a Master’s degree in International Taxation from Sydney University in Australia (2005-2006); and an LLB from the National University of Rwanda (1995-1999). He is fluent in English, French, Kinyarwanda, and Swahili.

Jean d’Amour UWIDUHAYE

Mr. UWIDUHAYE Jean d’Amour was appointed Head of the Department of Mines, Petroleum and Gas Exploration at the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB) by Cabinet on March 4, 2026.

Prior to his appointment, Mr. UWIDUHAYE served as a Geophysics Specialist in the Mining Exploration Division at RMB, a role he held from 2019. Before joining RMB, Mr. UWIDUHAYE worked as a Geothermal Specialist on the Geothermal Project at Energy Development Corporation Limited (EDCL), where he served from 2014 after joining from EWASA Ltd. 

Mr. UWIDUHAYE holds a Master of Engineering in Earth Resources Engineering from Kyushu University (Kyudai) in Fukuoka, Japan; and a Bachelor of Science in Physics from the National University of Rwanda. He is an active researcher in the geosciences, with particular interest in geophysical applications for natural resources prospecting. He is fluent in Kinyarwanda, English, and French.
 

Patrick NTALINDWA

Patrick is the Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB) since his appointment by the Cabinet on January 30, 2023.

Prior to his appointment, Patrick was working for a World Bank Funded Project under LODA- Single Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) known as Rwanda Urban Development Project (RUDP) as a Project Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist from November 2019 up to January 2023.

Before joining the World Bank Project, he worked for Rwanda’s Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN) as the National Development Planner and Research Analyst from January 2013 to November 2019.

With the current role as Advisor to the CEO-RMB, Patrick’s responsibilities include but are not limited to: stakeholder engagement and profiling by conducting comprehensive profiling of mining companies to better understand their operational structures, production capacities, and specific business needs; serving as the primary point of contact for mining operators, undertaking high-level consultations to identify operational challenges and provide tailored solutions; coordinating the internal technical team and the CEO’s Office to ensure complex issues are addressed with accurate, data-driven expertise; coordination of licensing application assessment by managing the end-to-end review process for mining applications, ensuring all submissions met regulatory standards and technical requirements before license issuance; conducting on-site inspections to verify that mining operations comply with safety, environmental, and operational regulations; enforcement of industry compliance by monitoring mining activities and providing detailed assessment reports; Acting as a bridge between the CEO and key internal and external stakeholders, including government entities, international partners, and private sector investors; analyzing trends, risks, and opportunities in the mining, petroleum and gas sectors to inform the CEO's executive decisions; and leading the preparation of high-quality policy briefs, memos, presentations, and technical reports for the CEO’s office.

Patrick is a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP)^® holding a Level-7 Certificate of Economic Analysis for Public Policy from King’s College London, a Diploma of Leadership and Management Styles from Alison Irish Institute, a Master of Business Administration in Project Management from the University of Kigali, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the National University of Rwanda. He is fluent in English, French and Kinyarwanda.

Dan MUTABAZI

MUTABAZI Dan is the SPIU Coordinator at RMB since 14th August 2020

Alice UMUHORAKEYE

Ms. Alice Umuhorakeye currently serves as the Mining Extraction and Inspection Division Manager at the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB), where she oversees activities related to sustainable mineral resource management and regulatory compliance. She was appointed to this role by Cabinet on March 4, 2026.

Alice is an environmental professional with over 10 years of experience in environmental protection, environmental impact assessment (EIA), natural resources management, and climate change adaptation and mitigation.
Prior to joining RMB, she worked as a Technical Advisor at GIZ Rwanda from 2024 to 2026. In this role, she was responsible for coordinating the planning, implementation, and operationalization of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in alignment with national environmental policies and the Ministry of Environment’s guidance. She also ensured oversight of the NDC Financing Agreement between GIZ and the Ministry of Environment.

Previously, Alice served as a Water Quality Specialist at the Rwanda Water Resources Board from 2021 to 2024, where she contributed to monitoring and improving water quality and supported national water resources management strategies.

From 2015 to 2021, she worked as an Environmental Protection Specialist with the City of Kigali, focusing on environmental regulation, EIA processes, and urban environmental management.

Alice holds a master’s degree in environmental economics and Natural Resources Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Chemistry. Her professional work centers on promoting sustainable environmental practices, strengthening environmental governance, and supporting climate resilience initiatives. She is fluent in Kinyarwanda, English, and French.

Catherine KANTENGWA

Ms. Catherine KANTENGWA was appointed Division Manager of Mining cadaster and digital information at the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB) by Cabinet on March 4, 2026. 

Prior to her current appointment, Ms. Catherine served as Advisor to the Deputy Chief Executive Officer at RMB from 2018, where she provided technical and policy guidance on mining governance and institutional development. Her career foundation was built in the private sector, where she spent seven years as a Quality Control Analyst at Horizon SOPYRWA, honing her expertise in applied chemistry and industrial standards.

Catherine holds a Master’s Degree in Environmental Studies from the Open University of Tanzania and a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Chemistry from Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST). She further enriched her professional portfolio with a specialized certificate in Sustainable Development Impact Evaluation from Wageningen University in the Netherlands, underscoring her commitment to evidence-based policy and sustainable resource management. She is proficient in Kinyarwanda, English and French.
 

Ephrem MANIRAGABA

Mr. MANIRAGABA Ephrem was appointed Mining Exploration Division Manager at the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB) by Cabinet on March 4, 2026.

Prior to his appointment, Mr. Maniragaba served as a Geology Specialist at RMB from May 2025, having previously worked as a Geology Officer at the same institution from December 2022 to April 2025. Before joining RMB, he worked as a Mining Geologist at GAMICO Mining Ltd and as an Exploration Geologist with the China Geological Survey.

Mr. Maniragaba brings extensive experience in mineral exploration and geological research. He has led lithium exploration initiatives, supervised drilling campaigns, and coordinated multidisciplinary exploration teams. He is proficient in GIS and other geological software. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Geology from the University of Rwanda and is fluent in Kinyarwanda and English.