Citizens woke up early morning for the voting exercise. These are Nyabimata hills in Nyaruguru district in the far South of Rwanda, neighbouring with Burundi. KT Press team is on ground. In this area, last month, some thugs attacked citizens, stole their belonging and killed two people and claimed they were a militia that wanted to capture power. Peace is reigning in this area and elections were conducted in total freedom
It is “wedding day” Spetember 3, as Rwandans have traditionally codenamed elections in the country.
Millions of Rwandans across every corner of the country, woke up as early as 5:00am and headed to polling stations to elect their parliamentary representatives.
Up and Below: Citizen queue waiting to vote in Nyabimata
Polling stations are designed in traditional style, while most voters, are also seen dressed in traditional attires.
The elections started at 7am (local time) but voters had already lined up for more than three hours.
All age groups – as young as 18-year-old first-time voters, left to polling sites to excercise their civic rights.
“Once again, I have enjoyed my right to vote,” says an old woman in Nyabimata
In Muhanga District, Southern Rwanda, Jeannette Uwimana – a first time voter could not wait to cast her vote.
Clad in a khaki uniform, Uwimana and her colleagues from Groupe Scolaire St. Joseph Kabgayi cast their votes at Kabgayi site.
Transforming education curriculum is what Uwimana and her colleagues want from their favourite members of parliament.
“Temporary change of school curriculum has negatively affected our education. We look forward to the new MPs to change this,” Uwimana told KT Press reporter on ground.
Smaragde Mbonyintege, bishop of Kabgayi after casting his vote
Election agents take oath before conducting the election
Decoration was different from a site to another
In Nyabimata sector, Nyaruguru district which borders with neighboring Burundi, KT Press reporters on ground found voters queuing on lines as early as 6:00am – an hour before the voting time.
Eastern province governor Fred Mufulukye (4th in the queue) as he waits to cast his vote
Miles away from Nyaruguru district, Eastern Province Governor Fred Mufukye cast his vote in Kigabiro sector.
Voters across the province arrived at polling stations as early as 6:00 am, our reporter on ground said.
Voters of today’s general election will vote for 53 candidates. The general election in diaspora took place on Sunday, September 2, with President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame casting their vote in Beijing-China.
Soldiers in Nyagatare district exercise their right to vote
Up and below: Gasabo district in Gisozi sector
On the same day, September 2, Eugene Mussolini was elected to represent the people with disability, where 668 voters representing the people with disability from across the country had registered to vote their representative.
Meanwhile, on today’s elections, independent candidates were seen casting votes as they seek entry into the country’s 4th parliament.
Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda casts his vote at Kimironko II-Gasabo district
Up: Polling agent in Nyarugenge assures a citizen that there is no fraud before casting his vote, Below: Old woman in Nyarugenge voting
Election at Kamembe site, Rusizi district-KT Press is represented here
At Gitega polling site in Gitega sector, Nyarugenge district in the capital Kigali, Independent candidate Hussein Ally Sebagenzi cast his vote with optimism to join the 4th parliament.
UP and Below: In Musanze district, Northern Rwanda, ESSA Ruhengeri polling site
At Kimironko II Primary School, Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda cast his vote – telling the media he was optimistic his party will get 10 parliamentary seats.
High on his agenda will be removing land tax, Habineza said.
Around 11am, at least 60% of the voters at different polling stations such as Fatima site in Muhoza sector, Musanze district in the North, had already cast their votes – our reporters on ground say.
Elections closes on September 4 with voting of the special categories of Women and the youth
