Ex-PM Rwigema in race for EALA seat

Quiet campaigns and lobbying for the country’s nine slots in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) are in earnest ahead of elections on Friday.Notably, former Prime Minister Pierre Celestin Rwigema, who returned from self-exile in the US last year, is one of the 18 candidates whose names were delivered by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) to Parliament on Monday. Apart from Claire Kayinangwa, all the other eight incumbents are in the race.Some candidates who spoke to The New Times spoke to yesterday were cagey about their chances, but said they were eager to represent the country.The law stipulates that campaigns should only take place in parliament on the Election Day.Rwigema, 59, is among eight candidates fronted by the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF)-led coalition, which also includes PSR, PDC, UDPR, PPC and PDI political parties. The list also includes aspirants from two opposition parties, the National Youth Council, National Women Council, and proposed representatives of people with disabilities.Opposition political parties are the Liberal Party and the Socio-Democratic Party, which are each allocated one seat, while each of the above special interest groups will also have a representative each. “I’m an economist by training and have enough experience in politics and socio-economic issues. If I get the opportunity to represent my country in EALA I will advocate for the effective implementation of (the EAC) common market and customs union protocols, and the fast-tracking of the negotiations on monetary union and the realisation of a political federation,” Rwigema told The New Timesyesterday.Upon arrival in Kigali, he told journalists he was willing to take up “whatever available opportunity” to serve the country. He blamed his flight into exile on what he called “machinations and intimidation from certain individuals.”Other candidates fronted by the coalition include, incumbents Christophe Bazivamo, Abdul Karim Harelimana, and Patricie Hajabakiga Mugorenejo. The new faces on the RPF-led coalition list are Pierre Celestin Rwigema; Laetitia Nkunda; Anne Gahongayire; Jennifer Wibabara and Agnès Mukabacongo.The Liberal Party picked Barnabe Nyamuganza and incumbent Odette Nyiramirimo as their candidates, while (PSD chose Clement Musangabatware and Jacqueline Muhongayire, one of the current EALA members, as their flag bearers.Incumbents here are Nyiramirimo and Muhongayire.On the youth ticket, incumbent Straton Ndikuryayo will fight it out with radio presenter Cynthia Umurungi.Valerie Nyirahabineza, one of the current EALA members, and Aquiline Niwemfura will battle for the women slot, while the quota for the disabled will put Dr James Ndahiro (incumbent) against Sharon Tumusiime.Umurungi, 27, also a physiotherapist by profession, promises to champion youth development, especially for those in the villages who she said are sidelined.“I will lobby for the projects that would help to increase the economic growth among the youth especially in rural areas,” she said.Niwenfura pledged to focus on empowering women, particularly, to ease their access to credit facilities, once elected.“Women suffer in East Africa because there are no special clear cut channels through which they can acquire capital to start businesses. With all the financial institutions in this region, it should be made easy, and that is my target if I am elected,”Valerie Nyirahabineza, vying to retain her seat said: “I will ensure that resolutions made in the EAC Women’s Forum that [was took place in Kigali recently] are implemented for the empowerment of the ordinary Rwandan woman.”The EALA elections were meant to be held before April 14 in all member countries. However, the process was delayed for different reasons such as amendments in national legislations. In Rwanda, elections were delayed due to the process to adopt new electoral procedures.Rwanda will be the third EAC country to elect the new members after Tanzania and Burundi. Ugandan MPs are set to pick the country’s representatives next week; it is not clear when Kenya will hold the elections.Rwigema, who was the country’s prime minister between 1995 and 2000, returned from 11 years of self-imposed exile in the US last year.