A Visionary of Sustainable Cities: Remembering Dr Aisa Kirabo Kacyira
Written By Maxine Ansah
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The global urban development community has lost a remarkable champion with the passing of Dr Aisa Kirabo Kacyira, the former Deputy Executive Director of UN-Habitat and United Nations Assistant Secretary-General. UN-Habitat has expressed deep sorrow at her passing, honouring her as a visionary leader and devoted public servant who shaped the organisation’s mission and touched countless lives in the world of sustainable urban development.
Dr Kacyira passed away on 12 August 2025 at the age of 61 after an illness, marking the end of a life defined by impactful leadership and unwavering commitment.
Her career was both broad and profound. She served as Executive Mayor of Kigali from 2006 until 2011, guiding Rwanda’s capital through a period of transformation and consolidating its reputation for cleanliness, safety and sustainable urban planning. Under her stewardship, Kigali received the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award in 2008.
Before her time at UN-Habitat, Dr Kacyira served as Governor of Rwanda’s Eastern Province and as a Member of Parliament, helping to shape policies at national level and strengthening local governance.
From 2011 until 2018, she held the positions of Deputy Executive Director of UN-Habitat and Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations. In those years, she played a pivotal role in advancing sustainable cities around the globe and fostering the New Urban Agenda, working closely with both governmental and non-governmental partners.
Most recently, Dr Kacyira served as Head of the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS), a role she assumed in February 2023 upon appointment by the UN Secretary-General. In that capacity, she provided logistical leadership to support the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia. The Somali President praised her as a steadfast leader whose dedication made a lasting contribution to Somalia’s stability and prosperity.
Her educational background also spanned two nations. She held a master’s degree in veterinary science in Animal Production and Economics from James Cook University in Australia and a bachelor’s degree in veterinary medicine from Makerere University in Uganda.
Dr Kacyira’s legacy is one of strategic vision, empathetic leadership, and enduring transformation. From the streets of Kigali to the corridors of the United Nations, her influence brought alive the promise of sustainable urban futures. As UN-Habitat notes, her legacy remains integral to its work and her spirit lives on in the communities and colleagues she inspired.
She is survived by her husband and four children and mourned by numerous international and local institutions that had the privilege of collaborating with her. She leaves behind a legacy that will continue to inform and inspire the pursuit of sustainable cities and inclusive human settlements.