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RURANGA Charles

Director of Center of Excellence in Data Science - GIKONDO Campus | 0

Email: cruranga@gmail.com | Phone: 0788484421

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Biography

Prof. Charles Ruranga holds a PhD in statistics (Econometrics) from School of statistics and Planning, Makerere University in Uganda in January 2018, an MSc in Economics with two specializations Econometrics and International Economics and Finance in May 2007 from Montreal University in Canada and a BSc in Economics from National University of Rwanda in 2001. Prof. Charles is an Associate Professor of Econometrics in Department of Applied Statistics and Director of African Center of Excellence in Data Science (ACE-DS) at the University of Rwanda. Prof. Charles has been working in education sector since November 2002. Prof. Charles has over 18 years of experience in academia, research, grants development and management and consultancy. In 2015, Prof. Charles has participated as Principal Investigator (PI) in the development of grant proposal submitted to the World Bank for the establishment of the African Center of Excellence in Data Science (ACE-DS) and the University of Rwanda won a grant of 4.5million USD. After the approval of the grant Prof. Charles has been appointed as Director of the center. Prof. Charles has also won a grant of 1,25 million CAD as MPI (Multiple Principal Investigator) financed by International Development Research Centre (IDRC) for conducting research on “Leveraging Artificial Intelligence and Data Science Techniques in Harmonizing, Sharing, Accessing and Analyzing SARS-COV-2/COVID-19 Data in Rwanda”, 01/10/2020-30/09/2022. Prof. Charles has also worked as Project Manager of NPT/RWA/053 project cooperation between NUFFIC, Netherlands and National University of Rwanda. Prof. Charles research interests lie in the domain of econometrics, quantitative economics, policy analysis, data management and Data analysis using different statistical techniques and software’s. Prof. Charles has experience in supervision of Masters and PhD students in their theses.

Research Area: 
Econometrics, Economic Policy Analysis, Data Analysis
I. Papers published in peer reviewed journals:
1. Niragire, F., Ahishakiye, J., Ngaruye, I. , Ruranga, C., et al. (2025). Spatio-temporal variation of child stunting and associated risk factors in Rwanda. BMC Public Health 25, 1195. March 29, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22335-w
2. Lester RT, Manson M, Semakula M, Jang H, Mugabo H, Magzari A, Blackmer MJ, Fattah F, Niyonsenga SP, Rwagasore E, Ruranga C et al. (2025) Natural language processing to evaluate texting conversations between patients and healthcare providers during COVID-19 Home-Based Care in Rwanda at scale. PLOS Digit Health 4(1): e0000625. January 15, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pdig.0000625
3. Munyemana, E., Ruranga, C., & Mung’atu, J. K. (2025). Effect of the Cash Support from the Vision Umurenge Programme on Household Financial Behaviour in Rwanda: The Case of Direct Support (DS). Economies, 13(1), 2: 1-23. December 28, 2024. https://doi.org/10.3390/economies13010002.
4. Nsengiyumva, E., Mung’atu, J. K., Kayijuka, I., & Ruranga, C. (2024). Neural networks and ARMA-GARCH models for foreign exchange risk measurement and assessment. Cogent Economics & Finance, 12(1) 1–15. November 4, 2024.  https://doi.org/10.1080/23322039.2024.2423258.
5. Uwimana, G., Ruranga, C., Masabo, E., & Muchie, M. (2024). Tax buoyancy dynamics in sub-Saharan African nations: The case study of Rwanda. African Journal of Science, Technology, Innovation and Development, 16(6), 881–889. September 5, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1080/20421338.2024.2386200   
6. Munyemana, E., K. Mung'atu, J., & Ruranga, C. (2024). Effects of Vision Umurenge Programme (VUP) Public Works Benefits on Households’ Financial Resources Allocations in Rwanda: Application of SUR Models. CINEFORUM, 64(3S), 314–345. August 25, 2024. https://revistadecineforum.com/index.php/cf/article/view/169
7. Munyemana, E., Mung’atu, J., and Ruranga, C. (2024). Analysis of Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Rwanda Using Wood Firm-Level Data. Economies 12(8), 203, 1-20. August 8, 2024.
https://doi.org/10.3390/economies12080203. 
8. Mugeni, R., Ruranga, C., Mutezimana, E., et al. (2024). Assessing factors associated with compliance to preventive measures of COVID-19 in Rwanda: a cross-sectional community survey. BMJ Open,14(7):1-8. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-078610. July 24, 2024.
9. Mwitirehe, J., Kipruto, C. W. and Ruranga C. (2024). Analyzing non-revenue water dynamics in Rwanda: leveraging machine learning predictive modeling for comprehensive insights and mitigation strategies. Water Practice and Technology, 19 (6): 2376–2398. https://doi.org/10.2166/wpt.2024.145, June 04, 2024.
10. Uwimana, A., Mukamana, L., Ruranga, C. at al. (2024). Assessment of the socioeconomic impact of COVID-19 in Rwanda: Findings from a country-wide community survey, preliminary analysis to inform further global research. Research in Globalization, 8, 100230:1-10, ISSN 2590-051X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resglo.2024.100230, June 2024.  
11. Ruranga, C. (2024). Exploring higher education students’ satisfaction for quality improvement: A case study of the African Centre of Excellence in Data Science. International Journal of Education and Practice, 12(3), 719–729. https://doi.org/10.18488/61.v12i3.3750, 9 May 2024.
12. Mwitirehe, J., Kipruto, C. W. and Ruranga C. (2024). Exploring the drinking water supply in Rwanda with panel data analysis. Journal of Water and Health, 22 (5):859-877. https://doi.org/10.2166/wh.2024.337, April 24, 2024.
13. Ngaruye, I., Nzabanita, J., Niragire, F., Rizinde, T., Nkurunziza, J., Ndikubwimana, J. B., Ruranga, C., Ignace Kabano, I., Dieudonne N. Muhoza, N. D., and Ahishakiye, J. (2023). Child stunting prevalence determination at sector level in Rwanda using small area estimation. BMC Nutrition, 9(147):1-8, December 2023. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-023-00806-w. 
14. Masabo, E., Nzabanita, J., Ngaruye, Ruranga, C., Nizeyimana. J. P., Uwonkunda, J. and Ndanguza, D. (2023). Early detection of students at risk of poor performance in Rwanda higher education using machine learning techniques. International Journal of Information Technology, 15: 3201–3210, June 2023. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41870-023-01334-3. 
15. Uwizera, D. K., Ruranga, C., and McSharry, P. (2023). Deep Learning Inter-city Road Conditions in East Africa Focusing on Rwanda for Infrastructure Prioritization using Satellite Imagery and Mobile Data, SAIEE Africa Research Journal, 114 (1): 14-24, March 2023, ISSN:0038-2221, https://doi.org/10.23919/SAIEE.2023.9962789. 
16. Nzabanita, J., Ngaruye, I., Ruranga, C., Masabo, E., Mutezimana, E., Niyobuhungiro, J., Uwimana, A., Nizeyimana, J. P., Uwonkunda, J. and Ndanguza, D. (2022). Effects of High School Leavers’ Characteristics on the Academic Performance in Higher Education: Empirical Evidence from Rwanda. Journal of Somali Studies, 9 (3):73-93, December 2022, https://journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.31920/2056-5682/2022/v9n3a4. 
17. Uwizera, D. K., Ruranga, C., and McSharry, P. (2022). Classifying Economic Areas for Urban Planning using Deep Learning and Satellite Imagery in East Africa, SAIEE Africa Research Journal, 113 (4): 138-151, December 2022, ISSN:0038-2221,  https://doi.org/10.23919/SAIEE.2022.9945864.  
18. Mwitirehe, J., Kipruto, C. W. and Ruranga C. (2022). Towards an Effective Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) System: Challenges and Solutions in a Data Science Perspective, 2022 12th International Conference on Advanced Computer Information Technologies (ACIT), pp. 130-135, September 26-28, 2022, https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9912749.
19. Nishimwe, A., Ruranga, C., Musanabaganwa, C., Mugeni, R., Semakula, M., Nzabanita, J., Kabano, I., Uwimana, A., Utumatwishima. J. N., Kabakambira, J. D., Uwineza, A., Halvorsen, L., Descamps, F., Houghtaling, J., Burke, B., Bahati, O., Bizimana, C., Jansen, S., Twizere, C., Nkurikiyeyezu, K., Birungi, F., Nsanzimana, S. and Twagirumukiza, M. (2022). Leveraging artificial intelligence and data science techniques in harmonizing, sharing, accessing and analyzing SARS-COV-2/COVID-19 data in Rwanda (LAISDAR Project): study design and rationale. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making 22, 214 (2022). 12 August 2022. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-022-01965-9. 
20. Maniriho, A., Musabanganji, E., Nkikabahizi, F., Ruranga, C., and Lebailly, P. (2021). Analysis of the Determinants of Household Expenditures in Rwanda. UKH Journal of Social Sciences 5 (1): 8-17, June 2021.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.25079/ukhjss.v5n1y2021.pp8-17. 
21. Ruranga, C. and Hacker, S. (2020). The Determinants of Households Having Savings Accounts in Rwanda. Rwanda Journal of Social Sciences, Humanities and Business (ISSN 2708-759X (Print); ISSN 2708-7603(Online), 1 (1): 6-19, July 2020.
22. Musabanganji, E., Ruranga, C., and Maniriho, A. (2019). Migration decisions among rural households in Rwanda: what does the push-and-pull model reveal? AGROFOR International Journal, 4(3): 68-75.
23. Musabanganji, E., Ruranga, C., Nzabanita, J., Nkikabahizi, F., Ndizeye, I., and Lebailly, P. (2019). Productivity and Competitiveness of Rwandan Agriculture: A Case Study of the Maize sector. AGROFOR International Journal, 4(1): 32-40.
24. Ruranga, C. and Mutabazi, A. (2015). Food Prices Transmission in Rwanda: Econometric Analysis. Rwanda Journal, Series B: Social Sciences (ISSN 2305-2678 (Print); ISSN 2305-5944), 2 (1):019-029. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/rj.v2i1.3B. 
25. Ruranga, C., Ocaya, B. and Kaberuka, W. (2014). VAR Analysis of Economic Growth, Domestic Investment, Foreign Direct Investment, Domestic Savings and Trade in Rwanda. Greener Journal of Economics and Accountancy (ISSN: 2276-7762), 3 (2): 030-041; July 2014.
26. Ruranga, C., Ocaya, B. and Kaberuka, W. (2014). Analysis of Rwandan Economic Performance Before and After the 1994 Genocide.  African Journal of Economic Review (ISSN 1821-8148), 2(2): 001-018; July 2014. 
27. Ocaya, B., Ruranga, C. and Kaberuka, W. (2013). Foreign Direct Investment and Economic Growth in Rwanda: A Time Series Analysis, Journal of Business Management and Corporate Affairs (ISSN 2354-3469), 2(1): 11-18; January 2013.
28. Ocaya, B., Ruranga, C. and Kaberuka, W. (2012). Dynamic Relationship between Gross Domestic Product and Domestic Investment in Rwanda, World Journal of Education (ISSN 1925-0746(Print), ISSN 1925-0754(Online)), 2(6): 79-90. December 2012.
II. Book chapter(s) published:
29. Ruranga, C.; Mugenzi, M. and Mutabazi, A. (2018). Spatial price transmission analysis in beans and rice markets of Rwanda. Rwanda Handbook of Economic and Social Policy, Chapter 13, Vol. 1, Pages 397- 419, ISSN 1403-0462, ISBN 978-91-86345-78-5, Jönköping International Business School, January 2018.
III. Papers published in proceedings of scientific conferences:
30. Byombi, K. V. and Ruranga, C. (2020). The effect of short-term bank loan financing on financial performance of manufacturing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Rwanda. EPRN Rwanda research paper series, Vol. 3: 21-41, June 2020.
31. Byombi, K. V. and Ruranga, C. (2019). The effect of trade credit on financial performance of manufacturing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Rwanda. EPRN Rwanda research paper series, Vol. 2: 80-92, April 2019.
32. Ruranga, C. (2011). Analyse des déterminants de l’épargne nationale du Rwanda. African Union Commission (AUC), Proceedings of the Second Congress of African Economists, ISSN number: 1993-6177, Vol. 1: 17-35, November 2011. Available on http://ea.au.int/en/sites/default/files/2nd%20Congress%20Vol%201.pdf 

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