Rwanda to Increase Cell-Level Staff, Salaries Under Local Government Reforms.
Rwanda is planning to increase the number of employees at cell-level administration offices from two to three, raise their salaries and introduce higher academic qualifications for cell executive secretaries as part of reforms to improve service delivery.
Under the changes, candidates seeking appointment as cell executive secretaries will be required to hold at least a bachelor’s degree, replacing the previous requirement of a secondary school education.
The reforms will update the structure of cell-level administration established in 2011. Implementation is expected to begin in late 2026 and continue through 2035.
Charles Rugisha, who oversees local government inspection at the Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC), recently told Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA) that the reforms would initially be implemented in 27 districts, excluding the three districts that make up the City of Kigali.
Rugisha said the decision to increase staffing at cell level followed feedback from residents who reported that the existing workforce was insufficient to provide services promptly.
“Feedback collected from residents showed that there are too few employees at cell offices, with people often making repeated visits to look for staff who can assist them, only to find them unavailable,” he said.
In addition to salary increases, cell executive secretaries will receive motorcycles to support their daily duties, particularly when visiting residents and monitoring activities within their administrative areas.
Information published on the Ministry of Public Service and Labour (MIFOTRA) recruitment platform places the position of cell executive secretary in salary grade 8.2.
A public-sector salary analyst estimated that, based on the existing salary grades, cell executive secretaries could earn between Rwf 180,000 and Rwf 224,000 per month. The two other employees supporting them could receive salaries of around Rwf 140,000 each.
However, these figures are estimates. The government has not yet officially announced the exact salaries that will be paid under the new arrangements.
The planned changes are intended to strengthen cell-level administration by increasing staffing, improving working conditions and raising the qualifications required of officials responsible for delivering public services to residents.
