On July 15, Rwandans were very busy casting their votes in presidential and parliamentary elections.

In Kigali, at a voting center at APACOPE School in Muhima Sector of Nyarugenge District, I heard songs in which artists were mobilizing people to participate in the elections, as it is their right to decide their future leaders. 

Attractive decorations, mainly showing the country’s culture, were installed on the entrance and exit of the voting center; with people having a cup of coffee before or after voting.

Passing by another voting center in Kimisagara Sector, in the same district, I saw men and women dressed in traditional “Imikenyero” and “Imishanana” ceremonial dresses.

My cousin, who was riding with me, asked why Rwandans put on such dresses when they are voting. We have never seen this thing in Kampala. One of the six grey haired men in our group replied that “elections in Rwanda are more of festive events than political events."

International election observers later jointly issued a statement commending Rwanda for a "peaceful electoral environment" and diligent management as over nine million Rwandans took part in the July 14-16 general elections.

Over 1,000 observers from organizations including the East African Community (EAC), the African Union (AU), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF), and Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), were accredited for Rwanda’s elections.

“The electoral, political and security environment in the Republic of Rwanda before, during and immediately after the elections has been calm and peaceful,” they noted in a joint statement issued on July 17.

Rwanda’s election atmosphere remains calm and peaceful. Joyful faces could be seen nationwide, just because a much anticipated voting  day had arrived.

A journalist working for Western media – we met in a coffee shop– asked us why she did not hear any gun fire, confrontations on voting centers, theft of ballot boxes, or at least burning wheels in the streets. She had traveled to Kigali, for her very first time, expecting to witness rowdy protests against incumbent President Paul Kagame who is “authoritarian,” according to the editorial line of the media outlet she works for.   

“I wish even our country would be led by an authoritarian president like Kagame,” replied my Ugandan cousin. We all laughed. And, she seemed surprised to get another side of the story different from the West’s narrative when it comes to Rwanda.

Later, as the provisional vote count emerged, Kagame had secured an astounding 99.18 per cent of the vote, leaving his opponents far behind.

His closest rival, Frank Habineza of Democratic Green Party, has managed only 0.50 per cent of the vote, while independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana trails with 0.32 per cent.

Habineza and Mpayimana openly conceded defeat, indicating that for Rwandans, elections are not just a competition. Whoever is voted for has to fulfill promises he or she made to the people, and even those rational ones proposed by his opponents. That is why Habineza and Mpayimana did not play aggressive politics.

Rwandans have a common vision to develop their country.  They avoid each and everything that can lead to violence. There is no time for ruining the progress made. All their efforts are put into maintaining or sustaining the country’s achievements. This is linked to Rwanda’s tragic history and the lessons learnt from it.

The country also cut costs by combining presidential and parliamentary elections. While each of the elections would, in the past, cost around Rwf7.2 billion, their combination trimmed the budget from Rwf14 billion to Rwf8.1 billion.

Rwanda fully funds its election budget and does not struggle with any deceptions from foreign financial support for elections, which would lead to lack of independence in holding free and fair elections.

More than 100,000 voluntary polling agents were deployed to facilitate the general elections; indicating not only patriotism but also Rwandans’ will to contribute to fair and free elections without hefty cost.

Another laudable move was how persons with visual impairment were provided with braille ballot papers decide their future leader. It signaled inclusivity for all.