Rwanda Premier League
Football league
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Rwanda Premier League is the highest division of football in Rwanda. The league was formed in 1975. It was known as the Primus National Football League in 2004 and from 2009–10 to 2012–13,[1] after which sponsorship was taken over by Turbo King.[2] The league was renamed the Azam Rwanda Premier League for the 2015–16 season after Tanzanian television broadcasters Azam TV were announced as sponsors in a deal worth US$2.35 million covering five years.[3] From 2019–20 season Azam TV announced the termination of its contract with Rwanda FA.
| Organising body | Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1969 |
| Country | Rwanda |
| Confederation | CECAFA |
| Number of clubs | 16 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | Rwandan Second Division |
| Domestic cup(s) | Rwandan Cup Rwandan Super Cup |
| International cup(s) | CAF Champions League CAF Confederation Cup |
| Current champions | APR (24nd title) (2025–26) |
| Most championships | APR (24 titles) |
| Broadcaster(s) | RTV Magic Sports TV StarTimes |
| Website | rwandapremierleague.rw |
| Current: 2025–26 Rwanda Premier League | |
The Rwanda Football Federation announced in October 2025 that two clubs from Sudan—Al Hilal and Al Merrikh—would compete in the Rwanda Premier League due to the ongoing civil war. They had been playing in the top-flight Mauritania league and returned to Sudan for a shortened season tournament to determine continental qualification.[4] The Confederation of African Football approved the temporary transfers on 19 November after the season had already begun.[5]
Clubs
- As of the 2025–26 season[6]
| Team | Location |
|---|---|
| Amagaju | Nyamagabe District |
| APR | Kigali |
| AS Kigali | Kigali |
| A.S. Muhanga | Muhanga |
| Bugesera | Nyamata |
| Etincelles | Gisenyi |
| Gasogi United | Kigali |
| Gorilla | Kigali |
| Gicumbi | Byumba |
| Kiyovu Sports | Kigali |
| Marines | Gisenyi |
| Mukura Victory | Butare |
| Musanze | Ruhengeri |
| Police | Kigali |
| Rayon Sports | Nyanza |
| Rutsiro | Rutsiro |
Previous champions
- 1969 : Kiyovu Sports (Kigali)
- 1971 : Kiyovu Sports (Kigali)
- 1975 : Rayon Sports (Nyanza)
- 1976–79 : unknown
- 1980 : Panthères Noires (Kigali)
- 1981 : Rayon Sports (Nyanza)
- 1982 : no championship
- 1983 : Kiyovu Sports (Kigali)
- 1984 : Panthères Noires (Kigali)
- 1985 : Panthères Noires (Kigali)
- 1986 : Panthères Noires (Kigali)
- 1987 : Panthères Noires (Kigali)
- 1988 : Mukungwa (Ruhengeri)
- 1989 : Mukungwa (Ruhengeri)
- 1990–91 : no championship
- 1992 : Kiyovu Sports (Kigali)
- 1993 : Kiyovu Sports (Kigali)
- 1994–95 : APR (Kigali)
- 1996 : APR (Kigali)
- 1997 : Rayon Sports (Nyanza)
- 1998 : Rayon Sports (Nyanza)
- 1999 : APR (Kigali)
- 2000 : APR (Kigali)
- 2001 : APR (Kigali)
- 2002 : Rayon Sports (Nyanza)
- 2003 : APR (Kigali)
- 2004 : Rayon Sports (Nyanza)
- 2005 : APR (Kigali)
- 2006 : APR (Kigali)
- 2006–07 : APR (Kigali)
- 2007–08 : ATRACO (Kigali)
- 2008–09 : APR (Kigali)
- 2009–10 : APR (Kigali)
- 2010–11 : APR (Kigali)
- 2011–12 : APR (Kigali)
- 2012–13 : Rayon Sports (Nyanza)
- 2013–14 : APR (Kigali)
- 2014–15 : APR (Kigali)
- 2015–16 : APR (Kigali)
- 2016–17 : Rayon Sports (Nyanza)
- 2017–18 : APR (Kigali)
- 2018–19 : Rayon Sports (Nyanza)
- 2019–20 : APR (Kigali)
- 2020–21 : APR (Kigali)[7]
- 2021–22 : APR (Kigali)[8]
- 2022–23 : APR (Kigali)
- 2023–24 : APR (Kigali)
- 2024–25 : APR (Kigali)
- 2025–26 : APR (Kigali)
Al-Hilal (honourary champion)
Performance by club
| Club | City | Titles | Last title |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | Kigali | 23 | 2025 |
| Rayon Sports | Nyanza | 9 | 2019 |
| Panthères Noires | Kigali | 5 | 1987 |
| Kiyovu Sports | Kigali | 6 | 1993 |
| Mukungwa | Ruhengeri | 2 | 1989 |
| ATRACO | Kigali | 1 | 2008 |
Top goalscorers
| Season | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 |  Luleuti Kyayuna | APR | 9 |
| 2002 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 2003 | Milly | APR | 12 |
| 2004 |  Abed Mulenda | Rayon Sports | 14 |
| Olivier Karekezi | APR | ||
| 2005 | Jimmy Gatete | APR | 13 |
| 2006 | André Lomami | APR | 13 |
| 2006–07 |  Labama Bokota | Rayon Sports | 14 |
| 2007–08 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 2008–09 | Jean Lomami | ATRACO | 12 |
| 2010–11 | Meddie Kagere | Police | 16 |
| 2011–12 | Olivier Karekezi | APR | 14 |
| 2014–15 | Isaie Songa | APR | 14 |
| 2016–17 | Dany Usengimana | Police | 19 |
| 2019–20 | Samson Babua | Sunrise | 15 |
| 2022–23 |  Hussein Shabani | Kigali | 14 |
| 2023–24 |  Ani Elijah |
Bugesera | 15 |
| Victor Mbaoma |
APR | ||