Kigali Genocide Memorial
Urwibutso rwa Jenoside rwa Kigali
A national memorial and burial site commemorating the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, where some 250,000 victims are laid to rest. It is the first stop for understanding Rwanda's history and its path to reconciliation.
The Kigali Genocide Memorial opened in 2004 on the Gisozi hillside in Kigali. The mass grave on site holds around 250,000 victims of the 1994 genocide. The museum has three sections. The permanent exhibition follows the timeline from ethnic divisions in the colonial era to the events of 1994, when more than a million people were killed in about 100 days, and then to the trials and the reconciliation and rebuilding that followed. The Children's Room tells individual stories through photographs of child victims and details of their daily lives, such as their favourite foods and toys, and it is deeply moving. There are also exhibits on other genocides around the world. Outside are a memorial garden and a wall bearing the names of victims. Entry is free (donations welcome), while audio guides cost money (check official rates). The exhibits are harrowing, and young children are not recommended. Please keep quiet, dress respectfully, and note that photography is prohibited in the indoor galleries. Around 7 April is National Commemoration Week, when the atmosphere is especially solemn. A taxi from the city centre takes about 10 minutes.
Opening hours
Daily 08:00–17:00 (public holiday hours per official notice)
Nearby sights
- Sainte-Famille Church
- Kigali Car Free Zone (Imbuga City Walk)
- Hôtel des Mille Collines
- Kandt House Museum
- Niyo Arts Gallery
- Belgian Peacekeepers Memorial (Camp Kigali)
- Inema Arts Center
- Nyamirambo & Green Mosque