The National Ethnographic Museum

Located in Butare (now Huye), the National Ethnographic Museum is one of Rwanda’s most important cultural institutions. It offers a compelling window into the traditional lifestyles, beliefs, and customs of Rwanda’s diverse ethnic groups. Through rich exhibits of artifacts, photographs, and cultural displays, the museum brings Rwanda’s heritage to life for visitors.

Butare is also home to Rwanda’s oldest university—the National University of Rwanda, established in 1963 and now part of the University of Rwanda. This institution has played a foundational role in the country’s development, offering a wide array of academic programs and contributing significantly to research and education.

Your visit will also include a powerful stop at the Murambi Genocide Memorial Museum, located at the site of a former technical school where thousands sought refuge during the 1994 genocide. Tragically, it became the scene of a mass killing. The memorial now stands as a solemn tribute to the victims and a place of education about the atrocities of that dark chapter in Rwanda’s history.