List of roads in Rwanda
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The following is a list of national roads in Rwanda. These primary highways are under the jurisdiction of the Rwanda Transport Development Agency (RTDA) under the Ministry of Infrastructure.[1]
The legal framework for these roads is established by the Law N°55/2011 of 14/12/2011 Governing Roads in Rwanda, which classifies national roads as international roads linking Rwanda with neighbouring countries, roads linking districts, or those connecting areas of national importance such as ports and airports.[2][3]
Following a reclassification process that culminated in the mid-2010s, Rwanda transitioned its road numbering from a French-based system (Route Nationale or RN) to an English-based system (National Road or NR).[4] This change reflects the country's broader administrative shift toward English as an official language following its entry into the Commonwealth of Nations.[5]
The Rwandan national road network is governed by Law N°55/2011 of 14/12/2011 Governing Roads in Rwanda, which classifies national roads as those linking the country to neighbouring states, connecting districts, or serving areas of significant economic and tourist importance.[6]
The network uses the prefix NR. The primary roads (NR1–NR5) form a radial system originating from Kigali, connecting the capital to major towns and international borders. The remaining routes extend this network further, either as spurs from regional hubs such as Musanze and Muhanga, or as cross-routes linking districts and international borders without passing through Kigali.[7]
| Number | Route | Length | Surface |
|---|---|---|---|
| NR1 | Kigali – Muhanga – Nyanza – Huye – Akanyaru (border with Burundi) | 157.839 km (98.077 mi) | Paved |
| NR2 | Kigali – Musanze – Rubavu (border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo) | 150.015 km (93.215 mi) | Paved |
| NR3 | Kigali – Rukoma – Gatuna (border with Uganda) | 78.010 km (48.473 mi) | Paved |
| NR4 | Kigali – Rwamagana – Kayonza – Rusumo (border with Tanzania) | 169.339 km (105.222 mi) | Paved |
| NR5 | Kigali – Nyamata – Nemba (border with Burundi) | 61.980 km (38.513 mi) | Paved |
| NR6 | Ngoma – Sake – Ramiro – Kibugabuga – Ruhuha – Gasoro – Nyanza – Gitwe | 144.157 km (89.575 mi) | Paved and unpaved |
| NR7 | Rugobagoba – Kinazi – Ruhango – Gitwe – Buhanda – Kirinda – Birambo – Karongi | 111.606 km (69.349 mi) | Unpaved |
| NR8 | Nyamiyaga – Gisagara – Akanyaru Bas (border with Burundi) | 90.720 km (56.371 mi) | Mostly unpaved |
| NR9 | Huye – Kibeho – Ndago – Munini – Bitare (border with Burundi) | 77.236 km (47.992 mi) | Paved and unpaved |
| NR10 | Huye – Nyamagabe – Kitabi – Buhinga | 115.274 km (71.628 mi) | Paved |
| NR11 | Ruhwa (border with Burundi) – Bugarama – Rusizi – Buhinga – Karongi – Rusiro – Rubavu | 270.406 km (168.022 mi) | Paved and unpaved |
| NR12 | Kitabi – Musebeya – Gishyita | 83.759 km (52.045 mi) | Unpaved |
| NR13 | Musebeya – Kaduha – Buhanda – Kirengeri | 68.915 km (42.822 mi) | Unpaved |
| NR14 | Nyamagabe – Rukondo – Musange – Mukungu – Gasenyi – Kibuye | 112.240 km (69.743 mi) | Unpaved |
| NR15 | Muhanga – Nyange – Rubengera | 61.454 km (38.186 mi) | Paved |
| NR16 | Muhanga – Ngororero – Kabaya – Mukamira | 98.764 km (61.369 mi) | Paved |
| NR17 | Cyakabili – Nyabikenke – Musanze – Cyanika (border with Uganda) | 123.603 km (76.803 mi) | Paved and unpaved |
| NR18 | Musanze – Kinigi – Kabatwa – Busasamana – Petite Barrière (border with the DRC) | 94.046 km (58.437 mi) | Paved and unpaved |
| NR19 | Base – Kiruri – Miyove – Kisaro – Gicumbi – Nyagatare – Ryabega | 141.897 km (88.171 mi) | Paved and unpaved |
| NR20 | Kiruri – Butaro | 36.368 km (22.598 mi) | Unpaved |
| NR21 | Kidaho – Butaro – Kivuye – Gicumbi | 74.872 km (46.523 mi) | Unpaved |
| NR22 | Maya – Rushaki – Kiyombe – Karama – Buziba – Rwempasha – Kizinga (border with Uganda) | 83.478 km (51.871 mi) | Unpaved |
| NR23 | Rwesero – Rwankuba – Kiramuruzi | 51.155 km (31.786 mi) | Unpaved |
| NR24 | Kayonza – Kiramuruzi – Kabarore – Gabiro – Kagitumba (border with Uganda) | 116.261 km (72.241 mi) | Paved |
| NR25 | Rukara – Murundi – Mwiri – Rwinkwavu – Nyankora – Nasho – Mpanga – Nyamugali | 175.441 km (109.014 mi) | Unpaved |
| Total | 2,748.835 km (1,708.047 mi) | ||
District roads
District roads in Rwanda are classified under Law N°55/2011 of 14/12/2011 Governing Roads in Rwanda into two classes:[6]
- Class 1 (D1) — roads linking different sector headquarters within the same district, or roads used within a single sector.
- Class 2 (D2) — arterial roads connecting district roads to rural community centres inhabited as an agglomeration.
District roads are managed by the infrastructure unit of each district, with technical oversight from RTDA.[2] In rural areas, D1 and D2 roads typically only accommodate small trucks during the dry season, with capacity further reduced during the rainy season due to the country's mountainous terrain.[8]
The network uses the prefix DR. There are 108 classified D1 roads, numbered DR1 to DR108, with a combined length of 3,906 km (2,427 mi), of which only 58 km (36 mi) are paved. Nearly all D1 roads branch off national roads or other district roads, extending the network into rural areas. A full list of classified D1 roads is maintained by the Rwanda Transport Development Agency.[9]