Muhanga

Muhanga City
Gitarama
City
Central Muhanga
Central Muhanga
Muhanga City is located in Rwanda
Muhanga City
Muhanga City
Location in Rwanda
Coordinates: 2°5′3″S 29°45′5″E / 2.08417°S 29.75139°E / -2.08417; 29.75139
Country Rwanda
ProvinceSouthern Province
DistrictMuhanga District
SectorsNyamabuye and Shyogwe
CityGitarama City Council
Elevation
1,812 m (5,945 ft)
Population
 (2022 census)
 • Total
82,797
ClimateAw
People in Muhanga District
Omega Express in South Rwanda

Muhanga (former Gitarama, renamed in 2006) is a city in Rwanda, in the Muhanga District, in Southern Province. The city is situated 5,945 feet (1,812 m) above sea level.

Though officially part of the Southern Province, Muhanga is geographically located in central Rwanda, approximately 45 kilometres (28 mi) by road southwest of Kigali, Rwanda's capital and largest city. This location lies approximately 85 kilometres (53 mi), north of Kibeho, in Nyaruguru District, the southernmost district in Southern Province. The provincial headquarters at Nyanza in Nyanza District lie about 40 kilometres (25 mi), by road, directly south of Muhanga.

The city is known as an industrial and minerals processing hub in Rwanda, and is one of three satellite cities in the country. As one of Rwanda's largest cities and its close proximity to Kigali, it is a popular secondary city and target of the government's regional growth strategy.

Overview

Muhanga is the fourth-largest city in Rwanda and the capital and largest metropolitan area in the district of Muhanga. Due to its geographical location, the city serves as the gateway to the west and south of the country.

The city is known for its mineral resources, including coltan, wolfram and cassiterite. There are also a number of open pit mines for gravel and sand in the city.

During the 1994 Rwandan genocide, Muhanga district, then known as Gitarama, was one of twelve provinces and would become the seat of the provisional government.

Amenities

The city has the following public services and economic activities, including:

Administration and public safety and services

Educational institutions

Economy

Religious

Population

The 2022 national census put the city's population at 85,000.

Notable people

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Citypopulation.de Population of the major cities in Rwanda
  2. ↑ Briggs, Philip; Booth, Janice (2006). Rwanda. Bradt Travel Guides. pp. 38–. ISBN 978-1-84162-180-7.
  3. ↑ elevation+of+gitarama%2C+rwanda Elevation of Gitarama, Rwanda. Wolframalpha.com. Retrieved on 10 June 2017.
  4. ↑ Gitarama%20(Gitarama)%20&toplace= Kigali%20(Kigali)&fromlat= -2.0744444&tolat= -1.9536111&fromlng= 29.7566667&tolng= 30.0605556 Road Distance Between Kigali And Gitarama With Map. Distancecalculator.globefeed.com. Retrieved on 10 June 2017.
  5. ↑ Gitarama%20(Gitarama)&toplace= Kibeho%20(Gikongoro)&fromlat= -2.0744444&tolat= -2.6513889&fromlng= 29.7566667&tolng= 29.5525 Map Showing Muhanga And Kibeho With Distance Marker. Distancecalculator.globefeed.com. Retrieved on 10 June 2017.
  6. ↑ Gitarama%20(Gitarama)%20&toplace= Nyabisindu%20(Gikongoro)&fromlat= -2.0744444&tolat= -2.3580556&fromlng= 29.7566667&tolng= 29.7386111 Road Distance Between Muhanga And Nyanza With Map. Distancecalculator.globefeed.com. Retrieved on 10 June 2017.
  7. ↑ Government of Rwanda (2020). National Land Use and Development Master Plan (2020-2050). Kigali, Rwanda. PDF accessible: https://www.environment.gov.rw/fileadmin/user_upload/Moe/Publications/Data/National_Land-Use_and_Development_Master_Plan_2020-2050.pdf
  8. 1 2 Republic of Rwanda (2019) Southern Province: Muhanga District. Muhanga, A commercial business hub. Accessible via PDF:https://www.muhanga.gov.rw/index.php?eID=dumpFile&t=f&f=26137&token=713190bbbc36772c6d65b2630c89d73d83802557
  9. ↑ "Gitarama Prefecture, Rwanda | USF Libraries Holocaust & Genocide Studies Center". genocide.lib.usf.edu. Archived from the original on 19 February 2026. Retrieved 25 June 2026.
  10. ↑ en&q= 18.6000S%2C%2030.0000E&aq= f&aqi= &bav= on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw= 1093&bih= 514&wrapid= tlif134073427857310&um= 1&ie= UTF-8&sa= N&tab= wl Major Points of Interest In Gitarama. Maps.google.com. Retrieved on 10 June 2017.