# Timeline of Kigali

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Kigali, Rwanda.

## 20th century

Part of a series on the :
History of Rwanda :
| Kingdom | ?–1962 |
| German East Africa | 1885–1919 |
| Rumanura famine | 1916–1918 |
| Belgian mandate (Ruanda-Urundi) | 1922–1962 |
| Revolution | 1959–1962 |
| Coup of Gitarama | 1961 |
| Republic of Rwanda | 1962–present |
| Bugesera invasion | 1963 |
| Coup d'état of 5 July | 1973 |
| Civil War | 1990–1994 |
| Genocide | 1993–1994 |
| First Congo War | 1996–1997 |
| Second Congo War | 1998–2003 |
| COVID-19 pandemic | 2020–present |
vte :
* 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 (estimate).
* 1962
** Kigali becomes capital of independent Republic of Rwanda.
** Population: 6,000 (approximate).
* 1964 - National Bank of Rwanda headquartered in city.
* 1966 - Bank of Kigali established.
* 1970 - Population: 54,403 (estimate).
* 1973 - Hôtel des Mille Collines in business.
* 1975
** Lycée de Kigali (school) 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 (approximate date).
* 2004 - Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre opens.
* 2005 - National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda headquartered in city.
* 2006
** Aisa Kirabo Kacyira becomes mayor (approximate date).
** 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 (approximate date).
* 2016
** January–February: Part of 2016 African Nations Championship (football) 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.