Muhanga (former Gitarama, renamed in 2006) is a city in

Rwanda Rwanda (; rw, u Rwanda ), officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator ...

, in the Muhanga District, in Southern Province. The city is above sea level. Though officially part of the Southern Province, Muhanga is geographically in central Rwanda, approximately by road southwest of

Kigali Kigali () is the Capital (political), capital and largest city of Rwanda. It is near the nation's geographic centre in a region of rolling hills, with a series of valleys and ridges joined by steep slopes. As a primate city, Kigali has been Rwa ...

, Rwanda's

capital Capital may refer to: Common uses * Capital city, a municipality of primary status ** List of national capital cities * Capital letter, an upper-case letter Economics and social sciences * Capital (economics), the durable produced goods used f ...

and largest city. This location lies approximately , north of

Kibeho Kibeho is a small town in south Rwanda, which became known outside of that country because of reported apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ occurring between 1981 and 1989. It is also known for the Kibeho Massacre, in April ...

, in

Nyaruguru District Nyaruguru is a district (''akarere'') in Southern Province, Rwanda. Its capital is Kibeho, a pilgrimage site of the Catholic Church. Geography The district is the most southerly in Rwanda, lying between the cities of Butare and Cyangugu and al ...

, the southernmost district in Southern Province. The provincial headquarters at Nyanza in Nyanza District lie about , by road, directly south of Muhanga.

Overview

Muhanga is the second-largest city in Rwanda. Muhanga is 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: ; 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 * ''Hotel Splendid'', a private hospitality establishment. ; Religion * Kabgayi Minor Basilica * St. Andrew's Pastoral Center * Muhanga Zion Temple * St. Andrew's Church

Population

The 2002 national census put the city's population at 84,669. In 2004, the population of Muhanga was estimated at 87,613 people.Estimated City Population In 2004
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References

{{Authority control Populated places in Rwanda Muhanga District Southern Province, Rwanda

Overview

Amenities

Population

See also

References