Candidates for the senatorial polls are set to begin their campaign on Monday, August 26.

The electoral campaign runs through to September 14 – before elections on Monday, September 16 for the 12 senators elected in accordance with national administrative entities; and on Tuesday, September 17 for one senator from public institutions of higher learning and one senator from private institutions of higher learning.

This is according to a Presidential Order of June 16 determining the polling date and electoral campaign period for elections of senators.

Regarding candidates for senators elected in accordance with administrative entities of the country – four provinces and the City of Kigali – the Northern Province has three candidates namely Laetitia Nyinawamwiza, Jean d'Amour Gatera, and Amandin Rugira, as per a list of 32 approved candidates that was published by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) on August 17.

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Southern Province has seven candidates who are Pelagie Uwera, Innocent Nkurunziza, Innocent Iyakaremye, Aimée Jaqueline Umutangana, Adrie Umuhire, Sosthène Cyitatire, and Elisabeth Mukamana.

Five candidates are contesting in the Eastern Province. They are John Bonds Bideri, Aphrodise Nambaje, Angeline Urujeni, Fulgence Nsengiyumva, and Alvera Mukabaramba.

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In Western Province, nine candidates namely Emmanuel Havugimana, Celestin Kabahizi, Boniface Nyaminani, Theobard Mporanyi, Sylvestre Hitimana, Speciose Nyirabahire, Marie Rose Mureshyankwano, Cyprien Niyomugabo, and Bernadette Nzabamwita, are bidding for senatorial positions.

For the City of Kigali, four candidates namely Hellen Katushime, Pravda Mfurankunda, Edi-Jones Nkubito, and Esperance Nyirasafari, seek to become senators in the upcoming polls.

Meanwhile, three candidates namely Anne Marie Kagwesage, Telesphore Ngarambe, and Evariste Ntakirutimana, are contending for one seat reserved for a representative of public institutions of higher learning in the Senate.

Only one candidate, Penina Uwimbabazi, made it to the NEC list to represent the private institutions of higher learning.

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Campaign venues

According to the regulations of NEC governing the 2024 elections of senators, the commission had to prepare a programme containing venues and periods for campaigning before the electoral college members, and communicate it to candidates and the electorate by August 23.

A candidate for the sectorial positions in accordance with national administrative entities, may prepare a specific campaign programme and present it to the commission at least three days before the day he/she wants to campaign and provide a copy to a district where she intends to do that.

Similarly, a candidate for senatorial positions reserved for universities and institutions of higher learning may prepare a specific campaign programme and present it to the commission at least three days before the day he/she wants to campaign and give a copy to a university or institution of higher learning where she wants to do that.

Electoral colleges

Electoral college for 12 senators elected in accordance with national administrative entities, consist of the bureau of council members of sectors making up all districts composing provinces and the City of Kigali, members of councils of districts having legal personality, and those of the City of Kigali Council.

For the election of one senator to represent public universities and institutions, and one senator to represent private universities and institutions of higher learning, the electorate consists of respective academic and research staff from those entities.