Timeline of Kigali

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

20th century

 * 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.
 * 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.