Presidential elections were held in Rwanda on 24 December 1978, a week after the country's new constitution was approved in a referendum. The constitution had made the country a one-party state with the National Revolutionary Movement for Development the sole legal party. Its leader, incumbent President Juvénal Habyarimana, who had taken power in a coup in 1973, was the only candidate. The results showed 99% of votes in favour of his candidacy.