71% of Rwandans Skip Museums

Share this post

A new cultural heritage report has revealed that 71 percent of Rwandans do not visit national museums, raising concerns about public engagement with the country’s history and heritage.

The study was conducted by Inteko y’Umuco, Rwanda’s National Council for Culture. It assessed public awareness, access, and participation in cultural heritage activities across the country.

Low Awareness and Limited Visits

According to the report, 61 percent of Rwandans are aware of national museums, while 39 percent say they do not know them at all.

Despite this awareness, only 29 percent of respondents reported visiting museums, showing a wide gap between knowledge and actual participation.

Museum Visits Slightly Increase

The report shows a small increase in museum visits during the 2024/2025 period.

A total of 263,061 people visited national museums, up from 257,855 visitors in 2023/2024.

Among the visitors, 85 percent were Rwandans, while the rest were foreign tourists.

Urban Residents Visit More Than Rural Populations

Museum visits remain higher in urban areas.

The report shows that 38.1 percent of visitors live in urban areas, compared to 23.8 percent from rural communities.

This difference highlights ongoing challenges related to distance, transport, and access to cultural institutions.

Kigali Leads in Museum Visits

The City of Kigali recorded the highest museum visitation rate at 45.9 percent.

It was followed by the Southern Province at 41.7 percent.

The Northern Province recorded 25.8 percent, while the Eastern Province stood at 23.7 percent.

The Western Province had the lowest visitation rate at 13.8 percent.

Youth Dominate Museum Attendance

Young people were the most active visitors to national museums.

The report shows that 35.1 percent of visitors were aged between 15 and 25 years.

In contrast, people aged 50 years and above accounted for only 27.8 percent, the lowest group.

Inteko y’Umuco said this trend reflects the strong role of schools, as many visits are organized in groups.

King’s Palace Museum Most Visited

Among Rwanda’s national museums, the King’s Palace Museum in Rukari attracted the highest number of visitors.

It was visited by 38.9 percent of museum-goers.

The Ethnographic Museum in Huye followed with 35 percent.

Other museums recorded lower visitation rates, including:

Museum of Campaign Against Genocide – 3.3 percent
Museum of Liberation Struggle – 4.9 percent
Art and Craft Museum – 3.7 percent
Environment Museum – 3 percent
Museum of Self-Reliance – 5.5 percent

Poverty and Lack of Awareness Major Barriers

The report identified poverty as the leading reason why Rwandans do not visit museums.

About 42.7 percent of respondents cited financial constraints.

Another 29.6 percent said they lack information about museums.

Other reasons included lack of time (9.6 percent), distance from museums (7.5 percent), and lack of personal interest (7.1 percent).

Museum Entry Fees Remain Affordable

Rwanda currently has eight national museums across the country.

Entry fees are set at Rwf 2,000 for adults, Rwf 1,000 for students with valid school cards, and Rwf 500 per student for organized groups of 20 or more.

Inteko y’Umuco said the pricing aims to balance affordability with museum sustainability.

Call for Greater Cultural Engagement

The council urged stakeholders to increase public awareness, improve access, and promote community-based cultural programs.

It said museums play a vital role in preserving national identity, educating young people, and strengthening unity.

As Rwanda continues to promote culture as a pillar of development, the report calls for renewed efforts to ensure that more citizens connect with their national heritage.