Rwanda’s 2026 local government elections will begin on October 24, with voters set to elect representatives and leaders from the village level through to the district level, according to the electoral calendar released by the National Electoral Commission (NEC).
The elections will also cover leadership structures of the National Women’s Council, National Youth Council and National Council of Persons with Disabilities, with the process expected to be completed by December 15, 2026.
At village level, residents will elect a five-member Executive Committee, including the village leader and officials responsible for security, social welfare, information and civic education, and development.
They will also elect representatives to the Cell Council, alongside representatives of different community groups.
At cell level, the council will include representatives from villages, women, youth, persons with disabilities and the private sector, among others. A representative will also be elected to the Sector Council.
Sector-level councils will bring together representatives of cells and various groups, including women, youth, persons with disabilities, the private sector, schools, health centres and civil society organisations.
At district level, voters will elect a 17-member District Council comprising eight general councillors, five women councillors, coordinators representing national councils and a representative of the private sector. The five women councillors will help ensure that women account for at least 30% of the council.
The District Executive Committee will comprise the mayor, the deputy mayor in charge of economic development and the deputy mayor in charge of social affairs.
According to the electoral calendar, voting at village level will take place on October 24, followed by cell-level elections on October 31 and sector-level elections on November 7.
Candidates seeking seats on District Councils will campaign from November 7 to 21, with voting for eight general councillors scheduled for November 21.
Other district-level elections will follow, including the election of five women councillors on November 17 and the District Council leadership and Executive Committee on November 24.
Elections for the National Councils at provincial and City of Kigali levels are scheduled for November 28, followed by elections for their executive committees on November 30.
The National Electoral Commission expects all local government structures to be constituted by December 15, while the final report on the elections is expected by December 30.
The elections will determine leaders and representatives responsible for local governance and community-level decision-making, giving citizens an opportunity to choose representatives at levels closest to their daily lives.
