Timeline of Kigali
The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Kigali, Rwanda.
20th century
- 1907 - Kigali founded by Europeans in German East Africa when German Richard Kandt "sets up an administrative residence."
- 1913 - Catholic Sainte-Famille Church built.
- 1919
- * Belgians in power.
- * Commissaire Royal du Gouvernement Belge headquartered in Kigali.
- 1922 - Kigali becomes part of Belgian colonial Ruanda-Urundi.
- 1959 - Population: 4,273.
- 1962
- * Kigali becomes capital of independent Republic of Rwanda.
- * Population: 6,000.
- 1964 - National Bank of Rwanda headquartered in city.
- 1966 - Bank of Kigali established.
- 1970 - Population: 54,403.
- 1973 - Hôtel des Mille Collines in business.
- 1975
- * Lycée de Kigali opens.
- * Francois Karera becomes mayor.
- 1976 - Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kigali established; Vincent Nsengiyumva becomes archbishop.
- 1977 - Regional organization to develop Kagera River headquartered in Kigali.
- 1978 - Population: 116,227.
- 1980s - "Smelting plant" begins operating.
- 1986 - Amahoro Stadium opens.
- 1990
- * September: Catholic pope visits Kigali.
- * Tharcisse Renzaho becomes governor of Kigali prefecture.
- 1991 - Population: 234,274 city; 921,050 prefecture.
- 1993 - United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda headquartered in Kigali.
- 1994
- * 6 April: Presidents of Rwanda and Burundi assassinated.
- * 7 April: Massacre at Jesuit Centre Christus occurs at the start of the Rwandan genocide.
- * 9 April: Gikondo massacre occurs.
- * 23 May: "RPF army captures the Kigali Airport."
- * 4 July: The Rwandan Patriotic Army takes Kigali.
- 1995
- * New Times newspaper begins publication.
- 1996
- * Kigali Independent University founded.
- * Thaddée Ntihinyurwa becomes Catholic archbishop.
21st century
- 2002 - Population: 603,049.
- 2003 - Kigalicity.gov.rw website launched.
- 2004 - Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre opens.
- 2005 - National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda headquartered in city.
- 2006
- * Aisa Kirabo Kacyira becomes mayor.
- * Kandt House Museum of Natural History established.
- * Some of Kigali-Ngali become part of Kigali City.
- 2007 - City centennial observed.
- 2008 - Rwanda Over The Counter Exchange established.
- 2010 - Kigali Special Economic Zone established.
- 2011
- * February: Fidèle Ndayisaba becomes mayor.
- * Kigali City Tower built.
- * Rwanda Stock Exchange headquartered in city.
- 2012 - Population: 1,132,686.
- 2013 - City of Kigali Master Plan created.
- 2014 - May: African Development Bank meets in Kigali.
- 2015
- * City of Kigali Town Hall built.
- * Makuza building constructed.
- 2016
- * January–February: Part of 2016 African Nations Championship played in Kigali.
- * February: Local election held; Monique Mukaruliza becomes mayor.
- * October: International environmental agreement signed in Kigali.
- * Kigali Convention Centre built.
- 2017 - February: Pascal Nyamulinda becomes mayor.