The Rwandan High Commissioner to Uganda, Colonel Joseph Rutabana, has called upon Rwandans living in Uganda to embrace the upcoming Rwandan presidential and parliamentary elections by turning up in large numbers to cast their votes.

According to Col Rutabana, the elections, which are scheduled to take place from July 14–16, 2024, will give an opportunity to Rwandans living in Uganda to vote at the Rwandan High Commission in Kampala on July 14, 2024, while other Rwandan missions abroad will host voting from July 15–16, 2024.

While addressing journalists in Kampala on Friday, July 12, 2024, Col Rutabana said that the Rwanda National Electoral Commission approved three candidates for the presidential position, urging Rwandan citizens to participate in the electoral process.

“The qualification for an eligible candidate is to be a citizen of Rwanda. This means that you have the right identification. Therefore, to vote, you have to be a citizen. However, you also have to be registered; when you register as a citizen, you are also registered to vote. The update for voter registration has been ongoing across the country and in the diaspora,” he said.

Col Rutabana urged Rwandans in Uganda to exercise their civic duty and participate in the upcoming elections.

“Rwandans in Uganda, I call upon you to come out in large numbers on July 14th to cast your votes at the Rwandan High Commission in Kampala. Your voice and your vote are crucial in shaping the future of our country,” he said.

The two challengers hoping to unseat incumbent President Paul Kagame are Frank Habineza of the opposition Democratic Green Party of Rwanda and Philippe Mpayimana, an independent candidate.