Rwandans in Uganda vote in referendum

Thousands of Rwandans living in Uganda yesterday thronged the Rwanda High Commission in Kampala to vote on the revised Constitution. The 2003 Constitution was revised by both chambers of Parliament after the lawmakers received petitions from more than 3.7 million Rwandans – about 60 per cent of voters – imploring them to initiate a constitutional amendment process to waive presidential term limits from the supreme law. Long queues formed as early as 6:30am as thousands of Rwandan voters arrived at the High Commission from all corners of Uganda to have their say on the revised constitution. “I totally agree with the idea of amending the Constitution and that is why I came here to vote for YES,” said Pastor Anastase Nyirimpeta, a Rwandan religious leader in Uganda. Yvonne Mutesi, a businesswoman who operates in Mbarara, western Uganda, said that she had travelled all the way to the capital to show the need for continuity of the many achievements Rwanda has registered in recent years. Rwanda’s High Commissioner in Uganda, Frank Mugambage, told reporters that given the tragic times Rwanda went through, it is only Rwandans who are the ones to decide on the future of their country. “Rwandans came out unanimously and said they need continuity and that there shouldn’t be any interruption,” Mugambage said. By press time, yesterday, Rwandans were still flocking in to cast their votes in an exercise that was planned to close at midnight. At least 40,000 Rwandans in the Diaspora were expected to participate in the vote yesterday. The process took place in 32 embassies and High Commissions across the world, according to Charles Munyaneza, the executive secretary of the National Electoral Commission (NEC). The only country where voting did not take place is Burundi due to security concerns there, he said. In Rwanda, about six million people will vote today editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Rwandans in Uganda vote in referendum