Kabgayi

Kabgayi is a historically and religiously extremely significant place in the Muhanga district of Rwanda's Southern Province. It is considered the cradle of Catholicism in Rwanda. In the early 20th century, missionaries founded a large mission station here, which quickly became the epicenter of the Catholic Church in the country. The centerpiece of Kabgayi is the Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, the first cathedral built in Rwanda. The complex also includes a large hospital, several schools, a seminary, and a printing press that published the first newspapers in Kinyarwanda. Kabgayi was the scene of important historical events, including the proclamation of the republic in 1961. Today, it continues to be an important spiritual and educational center, attracting thousands of pilgrims and visitors.

Nearby cities

Muhanga

A major commercial hub between Kigali and the western and southern provinces of the country.

Huye

The intellectual capital in the south houses the national university and the impressive ethnographic museum.

Ndora

A bustling center of agricultural trade in the Gisagara district, where coffee beans are primarily traded.

Nyamagabe

This town borders the Nyungwe National Park and is heavily characterized by timber and tea production.

Nyanza

The traditional heart of the former Rwandan kingdom preserves the historic palace complex of the monarchs.

Ruhango

A growing commercial town on the main road south, known for its large cassava processing plants.

Kamonyi

The urban area acts as an important link between the capital region and the deep south of the country.

Save

Rwanda's first Catholic mission, founded in 1900, sits majestically on a hill near the city of Huye.

Gisagara

A significant location in the southeast of the Southern Province, where large peat power plants contribute to the national power supply.

🗺️

Kansi

This peaceful southern community is heavily influenced by artisanal banana wine production and traditional pottery.

Kibeho

World-famous as the only Vatican-approved Marian apparition site on the African continent.

Mugombwa

A significant location due to the UNHCR refugee camp, which has a strong international humanitarian presence.

Nyaruguru

A high-altitude settlement in the deep south, bordering the Nyungwe National Park and the neighboring state of Burundi.

History & landmarks

Ntarama Genocide Memorial

A former Catholic church south of Kigali where five thousand people sought refuge and were killed in 1994.

Nyamata Genocide Memorial

A memorial in a former church in the Bugesera District demonstrating the brutality of the 1994 genocide and the failure of churches as sa…

Rusumo Bridge

A strategically important international bridge over the Akagera River on the border between Rwanda and Tanzania near the Rusumo Falls.

More places

🗺️

Nyabarongo I Hydroelectric Power Station

A large hydroelectric plant on the Nyabarongo River to meet national energy demand.

Muhanga Mining Region

A major area for the extraction of cassiterite, wolfram, and coltan.

🗺️

Ruli Wolfram Mine

A significant mine for the extraction of wolfram, a strategic hard metal.

Ntarama Church Memorial

Another church that became the scene of brutal murders and now serves as a national memorial.

Nyamata Church Memorial

A Catholic church where thousands of people sought refuge and were murdered during the genocide.

Rwanda Children's Farm

An educational farm where kids learn how to care for animals and plants.

🗺️

Mbyo Reconciliation Village

A historically important village project where genocide survivors and perpetrators live together after a reconciliation process.

Lake Muhazi

An elongated lake that is an important inland water body in Rwanda.