Rwanda

Kigali is the capital and largest city of Rwanda, chosen at independence in 1962 for its central location and neutrality among regions. Founded in 1907 under German rule, it replaced earlier colonial centers (like Usumbura, now Bujumbura in neighboring Burundi) and became Rwanda’s political and economic hub. It’s also known for its clean, orderly streets and the Kigali Genocide Memorial, a key site of remembrance. Memory tip: Rwanda is the “land of a thousand hills,” and Kigali sits atop those central hills—think “Kigali in the hills.” The other options are important cities—Butare (Huye) is a university and cultural center, Gisenyi lies on Lake Kivu by the DRC border, and Musanze is the gateway to Volcanoes National Park—but none is the capital.