Campaigning ends as Rwanda gears up for presidential, legislative polls

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) – Three weeks of campaigning ended on Saturday in Rwanda ahead of Monday’s presidential and legislative elections.

Polls will open at 7 a.m. local time Monday for 9.5 million eligible voters, according to the National Election Commission.

The electoral body will announce provisional results of the elections next Saturday, while the final results will be announced on July 27, according to the commission.

Three presidential contenders are in the running for the top office, including incumbent Paul Kagame of the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), Frank Habineza of the opposition Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, and Philippe Mpayimana, an independent candidate.

All three candidates held their closing campaign rallies in the capital Kigali.

Kagame, who has been in power since 2000, is almost certain to win a fourth term, according to political commentators, based on his nationwide support.

He won the last election in 2017 for a seven-year term with more than 98% of the vote, according to official figures.

Kagame is in the race after a 2015 constitutional amendment allowed him to run for three more terms, but with a shorter term of five years starting in 2024.

In its election manifesto, the ruling RPF promised to make more progress on the country’s National Vision 2050, which aims to achieve sustainable development and better quality of life for every Rwandan.

Over 500 parliamentary candidates are also competing for 80 seats in the lower chamber of parliament.