At least 1,200 people have submitted candidacies to contest for seats on district advisory councils in the upcoming local government elections, according to a list of names released by the National Electoral Commission (NEC).

Each of the 27 districts outside Kigali City will have 17 councillors, from whom mayors will be later selected. The councillors include five women councillors, eight general councillors and four representatives of specific groups: women, youth, people with disabilities and the private sector.

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Several incumbent district mayors and vice mayors are seeking re-election, having submitted their candidacies to contest seats on district advisory councils.

They include Clarisse Uwanyirigira, Musanze District vice mayor in charge of economic development; Theobald Kayiranga, Musanze vice mayor in charge of social affairs; Jean Baptiste Nshimyimana, Burera vice mayor in charge of economic development; and Theophile Mwanangu, Burera vice mayor in charge of social affairs.

Others are Vestine Mukandayisenga, mayor of Gakenke District; Marie Therese Uwamahoro, vice mayor in charge of social affairs in Gakenke; Theoneste Rugerinyange, vice mayor in charge of economic development in Rulindo District; Parfaite Uwera, vice mayor in charge of economic development in Gicumbi District; and Jean Marie Vianney Mbonyintwari, vice mayor in charge of social affairs in Gicumbi.

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Prosper Mulindwa, mayor of Rubavu District; Emmanuel Uwizeyimana, Rutsiro vice mayor in charge of economic development; Gerald Muzungu, mayor of Karongi District; Narcisse Mupenzi, mayor of Nyamasheke District; Phanuel Sindayiheba, mayor of Rusizi District; Alfred Habimana, Rusizi vice mayor in charge of economic development; and Francine Mukakalisa, Rusizi vice mayor in charge of social affairs, have also submitted their candidacies.

The mayors of Rusizi, Nyamasheke, Karongi and Rubavu began their current terms midway through the previous electoral cycle, meaning they remain eligible to contest the elections.

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Other candidates include Thadde Habimana, vice mayor in charge of economic development in Nyamagabe; Denise Dusabe, vice mayor in charge of social affairs in Gisagara; Richards Kagabo Rwamunono, vice mayor in charge of economic development in Rwamagana; Fred Hategekimana, acting mayor of Kayonza District; and Jules Higiro, acting vice mayor.

Those seeking re-election also include Nathalie Niyonagira, mayor of Ngoma District; Marie Gloriose Mukayiranga, vice mayor of Ngoma; Bruno Rangira, mayor of Kirehe District; and Modeste Nzirabatinya, Kirehe vice mayor in charge of economic development.

Rangira of Kirehe and Niyonagira of Ngoma are also serving their first terms and are eligible to contest again.

Which district mayors are ineligible to run again?

District mayors serve five-year terms, renewable once.

This means some incumbents who were re-elected in 2021 are not eligible to contest the 2026 local government elections.

Others serving their first terms remain eligible to contest, although re-election is not guaranteed.

Mayors Jerome Rutaburingoga of Gisagara, Ange Sebutege of Huye, Valens Habarurema of Ruhango and Jacqueline Kayitare of Muhanga districts in the Southern Province were re-elected for second terms in 2021.

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As such, they are not eligible to run again in 2026 under the law.

Those whose two terms have also expired include Richard Mutabazi of Bugesera, Radjab Mbonyumuvunyi of Rwamagana and Richard Gasana of Gatsibo in the Eastern Province, as well as Antoinette Mukandayisenga of Nyabihu in the Western Province.

Other mayors not contesting despite not having completed their terms

Besides mayors who have reached the maximum number of terms and are therefore ineligible to contest, others who have not completed their terms, as well as some acting mayors, do not appear on the list of provisionally approved candidates.

They include Dr Sylvère Nahayo of Kamonyi; Patrick Kajyambere, acting mayor of Nyanza; Emmanuel Murwanashyaka of Nyaruguru; Hildebrand Niyomwungeri of Nyamagabe; Henry Kakooza, acting mayor of Nyagatare; Soline Mukamana of Burera; Emmanuel Nzabonimpa of Gicumbi; Claudien Nsengimana of Musanze; Judith Mukanyirigira of Rulindo; Christophe Nkusi of Ngororero; and Dative Kayitesi of Rutsiro.

Nyanza District is currently led by Patrick Kajyambere, who previously served as vice mayor and replaced former mayor Erasme Ntazinda following his resignation.

The current terms of the mayors of Nyamagabe (Hildebrand Niyomwungeri), Nyaruguru (Emmanuel Murwanashyaka) and Kamonyi (Dr Sylvère Nahayo) are their first. They were therefore eligible to seek re-election but did not submit candidacies.

The mayors of Gakenke, Rulindo, Burera, Gicumbi and Musanze are also serving their first terms and were eligible to contest the 2026 elections but did not submit candidacies for re-election.

Process to become a district mayor

According to Article 129 of the 2026 Organic Law governing elections, a person wishing to submit his or her candidacy for the office of member of the Executive Committee of a District or the City of Kigali must first be a member of the relevant District Council or the Council of the City of Kigali.

Anyone seeking to become a mayor or vice mayor must therefore first be among the elected members of the District Council or the Council of the City of Kigali.

The candidate must hold at least a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent qualification recognised by the competent authority.

A candidate for mayor of a district must be at least 25 years old, while a candidate for mayor of the City of Kigali must be at least 35.

However, the law allows a person holding at least a secondary education completion diploma or certificate recognised by the competent authority, and who has at least five years of experience in leadership functions, to be authorised to submit his or her candidacy.

Such candidates must still meet the relevant age requirements.

The submission of candidacies for the office of a member of the Executive Committee of a district or the City of Kigali takes place on polling day before the members of the Electoral College.

The election of members of the Executive Committee is conducted by indirect and secret ballot.