Discover Huye 2026

Opened in 1989 with Belgian support, the museum is considered one of the best ethnographic museums in East Africa and displays traditional craftsmanship, musical instruments and royal insignia, offering a comprehensive insight into pre-colonial Rwandan culture.

Just a short drive from Huye, the traditional palace of the Rwandan kings has been faithfully reconstructed from woven reeds and also houses the famous long-horned Ankole cattle, once a status symbol of the monarchy.

As the seat of Rwanda's oldest and largest university, student life with cafés and a lively atmosphere shapes the center of the former colonial capital of Butare, as Huye used to be called.

The nearby cathedral, built in 1925, is one of the oldest Catholic church buildings in Rwanda and houses a small museum on the history of the country's missionary work.

From Kigali, Huye is reachable via a well-maintained road by car or bus in about two hours, with comfortable bus connections running several times a day.

Opened in 1989 with Belgian support, the museum is considered one of the best ethnographic museums in East Africa and displays traditional craftsmanship, musical instruments and royal insignia, offering a comprehensive insight into pre-colonial Rwandan culture.

Just a short drive from Huye, the traditional palace of the Rwandan kings has been faithfully reconstructed from woven reeds and also houses the famous long-horned Ankole cattle, once a status symbol of the monarchy.

As the seat of Rwanda's oldest and largest university, student life with cafés and a lively atmosphere shapes the center of the former colonial capital of Butare, as Huye used to be called.