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.