Buhanga kwa Gihanga, an area in Musanze District that used to be the residence of Gihanga—Rwanda’s founder king—has been classified among 20 cultural heritage sites by the Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement.

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The area located located in Barizo Village, Bikara Cell, Nkotsi Sector, was also the place of coronation of Rwanda&039;s ancient kings. It is now part of the country's tangible cultural heritage, which refers to physical, touchable items and places that have cultural, historical, or artistic value. The 20 cultural heritage sites are tourist attractions.

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At Buhanga kwa Gihanga, there is a natural forest of 30 hectares and a stream. That is where King Gihanga’s inaugurative ritual was held, using a drum called Rwoga.

Since the reign of Yuhi II Gahima in the 1440s, some of the rituals for the coronation of kings of Rwanda were held at the place, and there are still signs of the key places of the rituals.

Some of the signs include small caves and ancient, giant trees.

At the entrance of the forest, there is a well of Nkotsi and Bikara from which the king to be crowned drew water to wash himself.

Over 500 cultural heritage sites identified

While appearing before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, ICT, Culture and Youth on Thursday, March 19, the Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement, Jean-Damascène Bizimana, explained the exploration of key heritage sites.

"A countrywide census of 536 sites with tangible and intangible cultural heritage has been completed to enable different uses,” Bizimana told the house committee.

He said that 20 of the 536 cultural heritage sites across the country have been developed for cultural tourism and memorial purposes.

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"We will continue the process to identify the uniqueness of the sites so that such cultural heritage is recognised on the UNESCO World Heritage List,” he noted.

Currently, the 2024 ministerial order relating to the classification of tangible cultural heritage and modalities of its use and income generation shows only 20 tangible cultural heritages.

These include Kigali Genocide Memorial, Nyamata Genocide Memorial, Ntarama Genocide Memorial, and Murambi Genocide Memorial (these four are also on UNESCO World Heritage List).

There is also Nyarubuye Genocide Memorial, Bisesero Genocide Memorial, Rebero Memorial, Nyange Memorial, Nyanza-Kicukiro Memorial, the National Liberation Museum, and the National Heroes’ Mausoleum.

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They also include the King's Palace Museum, Kwigira Museum, Kandt House, Rubengera kwa Rwabugiri, Ibigabiro bya Rwabugiri, (one of King Kigeri IV Rwabugiri’s homes), Ku Mukore wa Rwabugiri (also one of King Kigeri IV Rwabugiri’s homes), Nyange Secondary School, Buhanga kwa Gihanga, and Utubindi twa Rubona.

The King's Palace Museum is comprised of buildings constructed from sustainable materials with thatched thatched roofs. There are also traditional royal cows, Inyambo.

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MP Vanessa Umuhoza Gashumba urged the Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement to engage youth in making use of cultural heritage sites for job creation and income generation.

"Cultural tourism creates a lot of jobs,” she said.

MP Christine Nyiramana called for reviving Rwanda’s traditional sports that are deeply rooted in cultural heritage.

MP Diogène Bitunguramye said infrastructure such as roads to the identified 500 cultural sites should be rehabilitated to attract tourists.

"For example, roads to the Liberation Museum at Mulindi w’Intwari need to be rehabilitated," Bitunguramye said.

"Cultural heritage sites must be accessible by road to facilitate tourists."