People with disabilities directly elect representatives in Rwanda
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Rwanda Inspirer
Women and people with disabilities welcomed their increased representation in decision-making bodies during Rwanda’s 31 October 2026 local elections. For the first time, people with disabilities directly elected their representatives to the National Council of Persons with Disabilities, reports The Inspirer.
People with disabilities elected their representatives directly for the first time at cell level during local elections held on Saturday in Rwanda, according to Rwanda Inspirer. The vote notably elected members of the executive committees of the National Women’s Council and the National Council of Persons with Disabilities.
Voters in Bugesera district explained that the elections enabled them to take a greater part in choosing their leaders after long marginalisation, reports Rwanda Inspirer. Dusabimana Cécile, a Rwandan woman with a physical disability living at the Sainte-Marthe Hospitaller Sisters’ centre in Nyamata, told Imvaho Nshya that people with disabilities had previously been excluded from community activities, including within their families.
The 2003 Constitution reserved one parliamentary seat for people with disabilities, whose representative was then chosen by an electoral committee. The current Constitution entrusts this election to the National Council of Persons with Disabilities. It also requires at least 30% of positions in decision-making bodies to be held by women, while 24 of the 80 parliamentary seats are reserved for them.
The vote follows initiatives to mobilise women ahead of the local elections, presented on 22 October by Rwanda mobilises women.
