Prof. François Niragire,(Ph.D., Appliedstatistics)

Academic rank: 
Associate professor
Department: 
Applied Statistics
School: 
School of Economics
College: 
College of Business and Economics(CBE)
Phone: 
+250 788 427 688
E-mail: 
fniragire@ur.ac.rw
Educational Background: 
François Niragire is Associate Professor of Applied Statistics and Director for Research and Innovation at the College of Business and Economics, University of Rwanda (UR). He holds a Ph.D. degree in Applied Statistics, a MSc. in Social Statistics and a Bachelor of Mathematics education. François Niragire has over twenty (20) years of experience in research and teaching in higher education.Prof. Niragire has made significant contributions to research and teaching on both postgraduate and undergraduate programmes since 2005. He is authors of more than thirty research publications in peer-reviewed journals and his research interest has focused on applications of statistical methods in population and health research, including biostatistics, spatial epidemiology, policy analysis, and economics of higher education. François Niragire has attracted grants towards UR and implemented several funded research and education projects as Principal or Co-Principal investigator at University of Rwanda.To highlight a few, he is currently the UR Focal Person for the Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA) and thus the coordinators of all CARTA related activities and projects at UR.He successfully implemented the “Intra-University Collaboration for Advanced Research training at University of Rwanda” project. This project facilitated the conception of, funded, and spearheaded the approval of the doctoral research methodology curriculum for the University of Rwanda. Also, Prof. Niragire organized and facilitated many trainings and seminars on doctoral training curriculum delivery for UR staff and staff from all CARTA African partners institutions under the NORHED II-iCARTA project.Furthermore, he was a core member of the team that spearheaded the wining of the World Bank grant to establish the African Centre of Excellence in Data Science at the University of Rwanda in 2016. AsCollege Director for Research and Innovation, he provides research leadership and expert support in research management and resources mobilization as well as research infrastructure and capacity strengthening since 2019. In this area, he has organized and facilitated many trainings and seminars on research methodology and research communication among other things. Prof. Niragire has also a long-standing experience in academic programme development and management. Before serving as the Director for Research and innovation, he had been the Director for Teaching and Learning Enhancement Unit of the UR’s College of Business and Economics(CBE) since 2018, and he served as Head of Academic Department of Applied Statistics at the then National University of Rwanda (NUR) between 2011 and 2012, as well as the Secretary of the Faculty Quality Committee in charge of teaching, learning and assessment quality assurance and control for the then NUR’s Faculty of Economics and management between 2010 and 2013. Besides the teaching of statistical, mathematical and research methodology courses, Prof. Niragire has also mentoredseveral students on their undergraduate, masters and doctoral research projects, with emanating publications in high impact, peer-reviewed international scientific journals.He has also provided highly rated consultancy services to various clients including individual persons, public and private institutions as well as Non-Governmental Organizations.A good number of such services have led to publications in peer-reviewed journals. Overall, his continued service to the society helps him put into practice hisexperience and expertise in the design and management of research projects, research data management, advanced and high-quality analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data, as well as the applications of software, especially statistical packages in the research process. He strives for transforming data into useful information for policy and action, and believes that computer programming is key to the analysis of big data.
Research Interests and area of expertise : 
Population and Public health (Applied statistics, Social and commercial healthdeterminants/ epidemiology, Child and maternal health), Agriculture, Economics of education
Publications: 

1.SangwaY,NdaruhutseV,RadenyS, Ndatimana D.,Niragire F. (2024)etal.Using eLearning to improve and retain the knowledge of community health workers in maternal and neonatal health in Rwanda: A cohort study. Public Health Challenges.2024;3:e174.https://doi.org/10.1002/puh2.174    28 April 2024

2.Murererehe, J., Malele-Kolisa, Y., Niragire, F.et al.(2024). Oral health-related quality of life among people living with HIV and HIV-negative adults in Kigali, Rwanda: a comparative cross-sectional study.BMC Oral Health 24, 128 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-023-03828-9    25 Jan 2024.

3.Mollel D., Kagashe G. A, Asingizwe D., Banzimana S, Maru S. M. &Niragire F.  (2024).  Barriers to access of maternal health commodities among pregnant women in public health facilities in Ubungo Municipal Council, Tanzania, Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice, 17:1, 2300457.https://doi.org/10.1080/20523211.2023.2300457   09 January 2024.

4.Ngaruye, I., Nzabanita, J., Niragire, F. et al. (2023).  Child stunting prevalence determination at sector level in Rwanda using small area estimation. BMC Nutrition  9, 147 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-023-00806-w              12 December 2023

5. Dhal T. Ajingdit, Peter N. Karimi, Kashi B. Carasso, François Niragire (2023).

Cross-sectional study on the availability of essential medicines at public health facilities in Jur River County, South Sudan. South Sudan Medical Journal, 2023;16(2):45-49.   DOI:  https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ssmj.v16i2.2  Aug 3, 2023.

 

6.Muremyi R., Haughton D., Niragire F., Kabano I. (2023). A cross-sectional analysis of the impact of health insurance on the use of health care in Rwanda. Heliyon9(6):e17086. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17086  10 June 2023

7. Semakula, M., Niragire, F., Nsanzimana, S. et al. (2023). Spatio-temporal dynamic of the COVID-19 epidemic and the impact of imported cases in Rwanda. BMC Public Health23, 930.  https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15888-1May 23, 2023

 

8. Murererehe J., Malele-KolisaY. ,Niragire F., Yengopal V. (2023). Prevalence of dental caries and associated risk factors among People Living with HIV/AIDS and HIV uninfected adults at an HIV clinic in Kigali, Rwanda.  PLoS ONE 18(4): e0276245. 

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0276245             April 6, 2023

9. Semakula, M., Niragire, F., Faes, C., (2023). Spatio-Temporal Bayesian Models for Malaria Risk Using Survey and Health Facility Routine Data in Rwanda. International Journal of Environmenta.l Research and Public Health, 20(5):4283.    Feb 28, 2023.DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20054283     https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36901291/

10.Mfizi, E., Niragire, F., Bizimana, T., Mukanyangezi, MF. (2023). Analysis of pharmaceutical inventory management based on ABC-VEN analysis in Rwanda: a case study of Nyamagabe district. Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice, 16, 30.        24 February 2023.

https://doi.org/10.1186/s40545-023-00540-5

11. Murererehe J., Kolisa Y M., Niragire F., Yengopal V. (2023). Periodontal disease and associated risk factors among people living with HIV and HIV-negative adults in Rwanda: a comparative cross-sectional study. Pan African Medical Journal, 11:43  (Clinical Medicine collection).       

doi:10.11604/pamj-cm.2023.11.43.38073                  Feb 20, 2023

12. Muremyi, R., Haughton, D., Niragire, F., Kabano, I. (2023). Determining Factors Influencing Out-of-Pocket Health Care Expenditures in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review. In: Aigbavboa, C., et al. Sustainable Education and Development – Sustainable Industrialization and Innovation. ARCA 2022. Springer. (Proceedings of the Applied Research Conference in Africa[ARCA]2022)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25998-2_32        Feb18, 2023

13. Niragire F., Ndikumana C., Nyirahabimana MG., Cyprien Mugemangango C. (2022). Child stunting and associated risk factors in selected food-insecure areas in Rwanda: an analytical cross-sectional study. Pan African Medical Journal. 2022;43:111. [doi: 10.11604/pamj.2022.43.111.35100, Volume 43,  Article number 111      https://www.panafrican-med-journal.com/content/article/43/111/full/Oct 31, 2022

14.Ndatimana D., Habiyakare C., Niragire F., Ndibaza A, Ntakirutimana O, OnesimeManishimwe O., Mutabazi J., Rutayisire E. (2022). Predictors of Compliance to Hand Hygiene among Health Care Workers in Rwanda. Rwanda Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 5(2).      https://www.ajol.info/index.php/rjmhs/article/view/226398

15.Ntampaka P., Niragire F., Nkurunziza V., Uwizeyimana G., &Shyaka A. (2022). Perceptions, attitudes and practices regarding canine zoonotic helminthiases among dog owners in Nyagatare district, Rwanda. Veterinary Medicine and Science, 1–12. by Wiley       https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.787        March 22, 2022.

16. Uwizeye D., Irambeshya A., Simeon Wiehler S., and Niragire F. (2022). Poverty profile and efforts to access basic household needs in an emerging city: a mixed-method study in Kigali’s informal urban settlements, Rwanda, Cities and Health.https://doi.org/10.1080/23748834.2020.1764301

17. Ntampaka,P., Niragire,F., Nyaga P. N., Gervais Habarugira,G.,(2021). Canine Gastrointestinal Nematodiases and Associated Risk Factors in Kigali City, Rwanda, Journal of Parasitology Research, vol. 2021, Article ID 9956256, 8 pages, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/9956256. 23/ Jul/ 2021

18. Semakula M., Niragire, F., Umutoni A, Christel Faes et al. (2021). The secondary transmission pattern of COVID-19 based on contact tracing in Rwanda. June 2021, BMJ Global Health 6(6):e004885.       08 June 2021

19. Niragire, F.,Ndikumana, C., Nyirahabimana, M.G. et al. (2021). Prevalence and factors associated with fertility desire among HIV-positive women in Rwanda in the context of improved life expectancy. Archives of  Public Health 79, 209 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-021-00742-w

  1. Semakula M., Niragire F., Umutoni A, Christel Faes et al. (2021). The secondary transmission pattern of COVID-19 based on contact tracing in Rwanda. BMJ Global Health 6(6):e004885. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/9956256 08 June 2021
  2. Semakula M., Niragire F., Faes C. (2020). Bayesian spatio-temporal modelling of malaria risk in Rwanda. PLoS ONE 15(9): e0238504. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0238504 .   10 Sept, 2020.
  3. Tumusiime M., Ntampaka P., Niragire F., Sindikubwabo T., and F. Habineza F. (2020). Prevalence of Swine Gastrointestinal Parasites in Nyagatare District, Rwanda. Journal of Parasitology Research 2020: 1-7.  02/12/2020
  4. Muremyi R., Haughton D, Kabano I, Niragire F. (2020). Prediction of out-of-pocket health expenditures in Rwanda using machine learning techniques. Pan African Medical Journal 37:357.  doi: 10.11604/pamj.2020.37.357.27287.   21/Dec/2020
  5. Ntampaka, P., Nyaga, P.N., Niragire, F.,Gathumbi,J.K., and Tukei, M., (2019). Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding rabies and its control among dog owners in Kigali city, Rwanda. PloS ONE, Vol.14, No. 8: e0210044., doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0210044 20/Aug/2019
  6. Niragire, F., Achia, T. N. O., Lyambabaje A. and Ntaganira, J., (2017). Child mortality inequalities across Rwanda districts: a geoadditive continuous-time survival analysis., Geospatial Health, Vol. 12, No 1,36-47,doi:10.4081/gh.2017.450.     11/May/2017
  7. Niragire F. and Nshimyiryo A. (2017). Determinants of increasing duration of first unemployment among first degree holders in Rwanda: a logistic regression analysis. Journal of Education and Work, Vol. 30:3, 235-248, doi: 10.1080/13639080.2016.1165343.          28/March/2016
  8. Niragire, F., Achia, T. N. O., Lyambabaje A. and Ntaganira, J., (2015). “Bayesian mapping of HIV infection among women in Rwanda”, PloS ONE, Vol.10: 3: e0119944, doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0119944. 26/March/2015 https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0119944
  9. Ntegereze P, and Niragire F. (2015). Analysis of Causes of Physical Domestic Violence against Women in Huye District of Rwanda, International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 5(5), ISSN 2250-3153.
  10. Babatunde, A., Nyasulu, P., Maseko, F., Adedini, S., Akinyemi, J., Afolabi, S., De Wet, N., Sulaimon, A., Sambai, C., Utembe W., Opiyo, R., Awotidebe, T., Chirwa, E., Nabakwe, E., Niragire,F. Et al. (2014). Sharing perspectives and experiences of doctoral fellows in the first cohort of Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa: 2011-2014, Global Health Action, Vol.7: 25127.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.3402/gha.v7.25127

  1. Niragire F., Wangombe A. and Achia T. N. O., (2011). Use of the shared frailty model to identify the determinants of child mortality in Rwanda, Rwanda Journal, Series C, Vol. 20, 2011, pp.89-105.https://www.ajol.info/index.php/rj/article/view/66521
  2. Masanja, N.L. De Silva, D. Uwizeye and F. Niragire, 2011. “Empowering Women in Research and Ph.D Training: The Case of the National University of Rwanda”, pp. 71, Nostra, Stockholm, Sweden, ISBN: 978-91-978436-5-2
Professional Achievements: 
François Niragire has over 15 years of experience in teaching in higher education. Since his academic career in 2005, Dr. Niragire has made significant contributions to research, and teaching for both postgraduate and undergraduate programmes. He has facilitated many trainings and seminars on research methodology and communication. His current activities at University of Rwanda also involve the management of research and education projects as well as the supervision of both undergraduate, masters and doctoral research projects.