Muhanga

Place in Southern Province, Rwanda

Busy people in Muhanga District

Photo1 Omega Express in South Rwanda

Muhanga (former Gitarama, renamed in 2006^[2]) 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.^[3]

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.^[4] This location lies approximately 85 kilometres (53 mi), north of Kibeho, in Nyaruguru District, the southernmost district in Southern Province.^[5] The provincial headquarters at Nyanza in Nyanza District lie about 40 kilometres (25 mi), by road, directly south of Muhanga.^[6]

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. During the 1994 Rwandan genocide, Muhanga was the seat of the provisional government.

Amenities

The city has many amenities, including the ones listed below:^[7]

Administration & Public safety

• The offices of Muhanga District Administration
• The offices of Muhanga District Council
• The offices of Gitarama City Council
• Gitarama Police Station
• Gitarama City Jail
• Muhanga District Prison
• Muhanga High Court Building

Educational institutions

• St. Leon Minor Seminary, Kabgayi
• Kabgayi Major Seminary
• St. Joseph Primary School
• St. Joseph Secondary School
• St. Elizabeth Nurses & Midwives College
• Kabgayi Technical College
• Kabgayi Catholic Institute
• Catholic University of Rwanda
• Gitarama Adventist Secondary School
• St. Marie-Reine Secondary School
• Groupe Scolaire de Nyabikenke
• College de Karambi
• College Adventiste de Gitwe

Public Service

• Kabgayi Hospital
• Gitarama Regional Stadium
• Gitarama Bus Station
• Muhanga Cultural Center

Economy

• Muhanga Farmers' Market
• A branch of Inkingi Microfinance Limited
• Three branches of Bank of Kigali
• A branch of Ecobank Rwanda
• A branch of Fina Bank Rwanda
• A branch of Banque Populaire du Rwanda SA
• Zipline delivers supplies from Muhanga to medical centres around the area using drones
• Idembe Heritage: Restaurant, accommodation and Rural life experiences
• Hotel Splendid, a private hospitality establishment.^[8]

Religion

• Kabgayi Minor Basilica
• St. Andrew's Pastoral Center
• Muhanga Zion Temple
• St. Andrew's Church

Population

The 2022 national census put the city's population at 85,000.^[1]

See also

• Districts of Rwanda
• Provinces of Rwanda

References

1. 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, Rwanda. Wolframalpha.com. Retrieved on 2017-06-10.
4. Road Distance Between Kigali And Gitarama With Map. Distancecalculator.globefeed.com. Retrieved on 2017-06-10.
5. Map Showing Muhanga And Kibeho With Distance Marker. Distancecalculator.globefeed.com. Retrieved on 2017-06-10.
6. Road Distance Between Muhanga And Nyanza With Map. Distancecalculator.globefeed.com. Retrieved on 2017-06-10.
7. Major Points of Interest In Gitarama. Maps.google.com. Retrieved on 2017-06-10.
8. Schlumpf, Heidi. (2011-08-08) Hotel Splendid Best Taxpayer In Muhanga District. Ncronline.org. Retrieved on 2017-06-10.