EASTERN PROVINCE: RWAMAGANA—As elections make rounds throughout Rwanda, time has come in Rwamagana for the disabled to cast their votes for who will represent them at local and national levels.Making their ways in all forms to election polls, Canisius Rutembesa was elected president scoring 24 of 68 votes. His nearest rival came in with 22 votes.Rutembesa vowed to fight “tooth and nail” to strengthen associations of persons with disability, morally, socially, economically and financially. “I will do what I can to uplift the standards of living of people with disability,” he said. “We will do advocacy by asking every responsible persons and organization to help those who are especially helpless. But to those who can do work, we shall put in place corresponding projects to help them prosper.” Lucien Niyoyita who was elected vice-president for unions, said he was extremely happy to be elected on the district level and promised to work hard for promoting the interests of the persons with disability. Newly-elected president for peoples with mental disabilities, Desire Karasira called on all people to feel mercy for such category of people.“It is quiet absurd to see people, even our relatives referring to us as mad,” Karasira said.According to Rwamagana electoral officials, this is the first-ever elections of this kind to be held by people with disability. The elections were organized by the National Electoral Commission with support of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Local Government.Ends
