The statement released today reads that NEC has started updating voters’ register and related activities.

Local leaders’ elections scheduled in September and October 2021 will cost Rwf3 billion. It is the first similar elections held during COVID-19 pandemic and will be hosted in compliance with health guidelines.

The elections initially scheduled in February 2021 were postponed due to COVID-19 related restrictions.

The posts awaiting new personnel include committees at village, cell, sector and district level (except for districts in Kigali), and members of councils for special interest groups namely women and youth councils, and the council of people living with disabilities.

NEC recently revealed that there are 340,000 seats in local leadership that will receive new leaders.

Grassroots leaders including mayors down to the village level have a five-year term with a maximum of two terms.

The last term kicked off in 2016 and was expected to end in February 2021.

NEC figures show that a total of 6, 469, 037 voters participated in 2016 local leaders elections while 2018 parliamentary elections attracted 7, 172,612 voters.

NEC figures show that a total of 6, 469, 037 voters participated in 2016 local leaders elections.