List of kings of Rwanda

This article contains a list of kings of Rwanda. The Kingdom of Rwanda was ruled by sovereigns titled mwami (plural abami), and was one of the oldest and the most centralized kingdoms in the history of Central and East Africa.

Its state and affairs before King Gihanga I are largely unconfirmed and highly shrouded in mythical tales.

Kings of Rwanda

 * Abami b'imishumi (descendants of Ibimanuka gods) – B.C.E
 * Gihanga I
 * Kanyarwanda I Gahima I
 * Rumeza I
 * Yuhi I Musindi
 * Rumeza II
 * Nyarume
 * Rubanda (Lugalbanda)
 * Ndahiro I Bamara (Wamala)
 * Ndahiro II Ruyange
 * Ndahiro III Ndoba
 * Ndahiro IV Samembe
 * Nsoro I Samukondo
 * Nsoro II Byinshi
 * Ruganzu I Bwimba
 * Cyilima I Rugwe
 * 1st Abami Bibitekerezo (1st Common Era Kings)
 * Kigeli I Mukobanya
 * Mibambwe I Sekarongoro I Mutabazi
 * Yuhi II Gahima II
 * Ndahiro V Cyamatare


 * 2nd Abami Bibitekerezo (2nd Common Era Kings)
 * Ruganzu II Ndoli (c. 1560?)
 * Mutara I Nsoro III Semugeshi
 * Kigeli II Nyamuheshera
 * Mibamwe II Sekarongoro II Gisanura (1700? – 1735)
 * Yuhi III Mazimpaka (1735 – 1766)
 * Kalemera Rwaka (1766 – 1770)
 * Cyilima II Rujugira (1770 – 1786)
 * Kigeli III Ndabarasa (1786 – 1796)
 * Mibambwe III Mutabazi II Sentabyo (1796 – 1801)
 * Yuhi IV Gahindiro (1801 – 1845)
 * Mutara II Rwogera (1845 – 1867)
 * Kigeli IV Rwabugiri (1867 – September 1895)
 * Mibambwe IV Rutarindwa (September 1895 – December 1896)

Pretenders since 1961


On 28 January 1961, in the coup of Gitarama during what was dubbed the Rwandan Revolution by the Belgian-favored Hutu extremist party Parmehutu, the Belgian colonial overseers abolished the monarchy and Rwanda became a republic (retroactively approved by a Hutu led referendum held on 25 September of the same year). Afterwards, Kigeli V Ndahindurwa continued to maintain his claim to the throne until his death on 16 October 2016 in Washington, D.C. On 9 January 2017, the Royal Council of Abiru announced Prince Emmanuel Bushayija as the new heir to the throne. Prince Emmanuel adopted the regnal name Yuhi VI.