Rwanda’s local government elections will determine representatives and leaders across the country’s decentralised administrative structures, from villages and cells to sectors, districts and the City of Kigali.
The elections are scheduled to take place from Oct. 24 to Nov. 30, according to the National Electoral Commission (NEC). The process will also cover executive committees of the National Women’s Council, National Youth Council and National Council of Persons with Disabilities.
At the grassroots level, voters will elect members of Village Executive Committees, while Advisory Councils will be constituted at village, cell and sector levels. Advisory Councils will also operate at district and City of Kigali level.
The district and City of Kigali elections will also determine council members and the leadership of the executive committees. The executive committee includes the mayor, the vice mayor in charge of economic development and the vice mayor in charge of social affairs.
Candidates for district or City of Kigali councils must be Rwandan citizens aged at least 21 and must not fall under the legal restrictions on eligibility. They are required to submit identification or proof of nationality, a certified education certificate, two passport photographs and a criminal record issued within the previous six months.
The law also sets out restrictions for people holding certain public positions, including members of Cabinet and Parliament, judges, prosecutors, provincial governors, members of the security services and some senior public officials. Those holding incompatible positions must meet the prescribed conditions before seeking election.
The local elections are not based on political party affiliation, NEC said. The commission has been preparing voters and election officials for the new electoral framework introduced in 2026.
The elections will also renew leadership structures of the three national councils representing women, young people and persons with disabilities.
The National Women’s Council and National Youth Council will elect executive committees from the village level through to the national level. The Youth Council does not have an executive committee at province level. The National Council of Persons with Disabilities will elect its executive committees from the cell level through to the national level. Coordinators of the councils also participate in Advisory Councils at local government levels.
NEC has already begun training election volunteers ahead of the polls. The commission said the exercise involves 59,348 polling-room volunteers across 2,148 polling sites in 832 sectors, bringing the total number of volunteers involved in the training to 62,328.
The elections are being organised under a new electoral framework, including Organic Law No. 002/2026.OL of May 25, 2026, and regulations issued in August governing local government and national council elections.
