Kigali Genocide Memorial (Gisozi)
At a glance
| Location | Gisozi, City of Kigali |
|---|---|
| Listing | UNESCO World Heritage, 2023, with Nyamata, Murambi and Bisesero |
| Run by | Aegis Trust on behalf of MINUBUMWE |
| Exhibitions | Three permanent exhibitions, a children’s memorial and gardens |
| Archive | Genocide Archive of Rwanda |
Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Memorial sites of the Genocide: Nyamata, Murambi, Gisozi and Bisesero; Kigali Genocide Memorial: Visit; Kigali Genocide Memorial: Kwibuka28 commemoration starts at the Kigali Genocide Memorial1,4,5
The memorial
After the genocide, the Kigali authorities chose Gisozi hill for the mass graves of the city’s 250,000 victims. Building began in 1999, burials began in 2001 and the memorial opened in 2004. It was set up with the Aegis Trust, which still runs it on behalf of the Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement. The Flame of Remembrance is lit there on 7 April each year and burns for the 100 days of commemoration.2,4,5
Exhibitions and archive
The largest of the three permanent exhibitions covers Rwanda before the genocide, the genocide itself and the years of justice and reconciliation that followed. Another covers genocides elsewhere in the world. The memorial also holds the Genocide Archive of Rwanda, an education centre and an amphitheatre with 1,200 seats, opened in 2014.4
Practical information
Open daily from 9:00 to 17:00, with last entry at 16:00. On the last Saturday of each month it opens from 13:00 because of Umuganda community work. It is closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day and usually on the morning of 7 April. Entry is free and parking is free; guided tours and an audio-guide package are available. Allow at least an hour and a half, and dress and behave respectfully.3
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Kigali Genocide Memorial?
On Gisozi hill, ten minutes’ drive from the centre of Kigali. It opened on 7 April 2004.
How many victims are buried at Gisozi?
250,000 people killed in the capital during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
What are the opening hours?
Daily from 9:00 to 17:00, with last entry at 16:00. On the last Saturday of each month it opens from 13:00 because of Umuganda. Entry is free.
Who runs the memorial?
The Aegis Trust, on behalf of the Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement.
Sources
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Memorial sites of the Genocide: Nyamata, Murambi, Gisozi and Bisesero
- Kigali Genocide Memorial: Media brief on Kwibuka23
- Kigali Genocide Memorial: Know before you go
- Kigali Genocide Memorial: Visit
- Kigali Genocide Memorial: Kwibuka28 commemoration starts at the Kigali Genocide Memorial
Figures checked 9 November 2026. Prepared by InvestRwanda.com for general information. Figures come from the sources listed.
