VIDEO: Police announce road closures, alternative routes in Kigali ahead of UCI World Championships

Rwanda National Police have announced main routes set aside for practice and social rides and alternative routes which will be used to ease public movement across Kigali during the upcoming 2025 UCI Road World Championships. The global race, the first of its kind on African soil, will run from September 21-28, with Saturday, September 20, set aside for official practice and a social ride open to the public, ACP Boniface Rutikanga, the police spokesperson told The New Times. ALSO READ: A closer look at UCI firsts during Rwanda race Alternative routes for the public According to authorities, road closures will be temporary, generally from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and all routes will reopen at the very end of every race. “This Championship is not coming to paralyse life for people in Kigali because there are alternative routes that will be used,” said Rutikanga. To ease movements during the championship, he said, an alternative road was created, traversing Ruriba, Rugendabari, Mumiduha and LP Nyamirambo to ‘40’ in Biryogo. From there, the public will be shown the route to take. This alternative route will be used only once, which means that, immediately after the first round of the race, the roads will reopen and return to normal use. “This is quite different from other parts where they will take multiple rounds and we will continue informing the public in case of change,” he said. And for people from other suburbs of the city, he explained, they will continue using the same alternative routes like before. Alternatively, someone can also decide to move to their workplaces in early morning hours and wait until the roads reopen in the evening. “The public is urged to take note of the alternative routes, plan movements accordingly, and join in the festivities by attending the social ride or cheering during the championship races,” he said. Alternative routes for residents and transport of goods To minimize disruption, Police have also designated alternative routes for motorists and trucks. For instance, vehicles coming from Bugesera will pass through Mugendo and Ntunga to Canal Olympia in Rebero. From Rebero roundabout near UTB, motorists can ride through Miduha or Gikondo, then either proceed to SEGEM towards Nyarugunga, or connect to Nyamirambo’s “40” area and Kiyovu before reaching the city centre. On September 23, people coming from Bugesera won’t need to take the route to Mugendo. Instead, they will come to the lights and head to Rebero and then continue to the same route. For the ones coming from the Eastern Province, drivers can use routes through Abademobe or Busanza. From Busanza, motorists can head towards Kanombe Military Hospital, then Mu Itunda, Kabeza, and Niboye to reach Kicukiro Centre, where they will be diverted to the lower bridge road (as the upper one will be used for the race). From there, the route will head to Gatenga, Expo Ground and pass by Magerwa to Kwa Mironko before connecting to Segem and Nyarugunga. For heavy trucks, they will be rerouted through the Special Economic Zone to Masizi, Birembo, Nyacyonga, Karuruma, Gashyatsa, and Nyabugogo. From Nyabugogo, trucks can proceed towards the Southern or Western Provinces. Those bringing goods to Magerwa Masaka branch will continue as usual, while those heading to Magerwa Gikondo branch will be required to wait until races conclude. “And in all these places, Police and other partners will be available to help people, no matter how many they may be, so that they don’t go in the streets,” he said. Practice, social rides routes According to police, the practice sessions and social rides will begin at BK Arena, heading towards Simba Supermarket Kimironko branch via Kwa Rwahama to Chez Lando, then continue to Prince House. From there, riders will turn at Sonatubes roundabout, continue upwards to Nyanza bus stop, pass through Gahanga, and turn back at Master Steel. The return leg will see cyclists ride back through Sonatubes, Rwandex, the City Centre roundabout, Kanogo up to Mediheal Polyclinic, before passing Women Foundation Ministries along the stony road heading to the Office of Ombudsman traffic lights and end at Kigali Convention Centre (KCC) which will serve as the finish line for the fourth to the eighth stages of the championship. A second route set to be used for practice will run from Kigali Convention Center to Gishushu, then through Nyarutarama at MTN Rwanda headquarters to Kabuga ka Nyarutarama, turning around near Utexrwa. ALSO READ: Why Kigali 2025 race could draw largest viewership ever Cyclists will then descend towards B Hotel, continue past the golf course, turn at SOS Children’s Village, head towards MINAGRI, and join the road from Kacyiru. The route will then pass Meridien station, University of Kigali roundabout, pass behind KBC before heading back to KCC. “Other roads will be open for movement on this day, only the mentioned ones will be closed,” Rutikanga said. Itinerary Sunday, September 21 to Tuesday, September 23 The race will be officially flagged off at BK Arena on September 21. Riders will follow the same course as the pre-race practice, riding through Simba Supermarket, Kwa Rwahama, Prince House, Sonatubes, Nyanza, Gahanga, and back towards Kanogo, Mediheal, Women Foundation Ministries, and sprint toward the finish line at KCC. On Monday, September 22, the second day of racing will also start at BK Arena and follow the same course, and make a turn at Gahanga market before rejoining the same return route towards KCC. ALSO READ: Why Kigali 2025 is billed to be UCI’s hardest race ever “There won’t be a lot of change on this day, it’s just that the cyclists will turn from Nyanza bus park, and come back to the same route to KCC,” the Police spokesperson explained. Wednesday, September 24 The championship will start at the Kigali Convention Centre (KCC), unlike the first three days when the starting point will be at BK Arena. From KCC, riders will proceed through Gishushu, Chez Lando, and Prince House, before turning back at Sonatubes roundabout and continuing to Nyanza bus park, where they will make the turnaround. On their return, cyclists will ride through Kicukiro Sonatubes, Rwandex, Kanogo, past Cadillac, up to Mediheal, and along the stony road near the Women Foundation Ministries in Kimihurura heading towards the Ombudsman’s Office traffic lights, and finishing back at KCC. Another route will be used by cyclists for practice, starting again at KCC and proceeding to Gishushu, Nyarutarama at MTN Rwanda Headquarters, and Kabuga ka Nyarutarama. From there, riders will turn around near Utexrwa, continue past the Nyarutarama golf course, turn to SOS Children’s Village, head towards MINAGRI, and connect with the road from Kacyiru. The route will then pass Meridien petrol station, University of Kigali roundabout, then pass behind KBC, and return to KCC. Officials confirmed that alternative routes for motorists will remain unchanged for this day. Thursday, September 25 to Saturday, September 27 The race will start at the Kigali Convention Centre (KCC), with riders proceeding through Gishushu to Nyarutarama at MTN headquarters and Kabuga ka Nyarutarama. From there, they will turn around near Utexrwa, continue past the golf course, turn at SOS Children’s Village, head towards MINAGRI, and connect with the road from Kacyiru. The route will then pass Meridien station, University of Kigali roundabout, go behind KBC, climb up to Mediheal, and follow the stony road near Women Foundation Ministries, before heading towards the Ombudsman’s Office traffic lights and finishing back at KCC. “On this day, the Kimironko side, Kicukiro side, and roads from Bugesera will remain open, including for those in Remera and even those heading to Magerwa Gikondo Branch. Many roads will not be closed,” officials confirmed. Rutikanga added that road closures will vary each day, with specific times and details to be announced on a daily basis. Sunday, September 28 This is the last day of the championship. The race will start at Kigali Convention Centre (KCC), with riders proceeding through Gishushu to MTN Rwanda Headquarters in Nyarutarama and Kabuga ka Nyarutarama. From there, they will turn around near Utexrwa, continue past the golf course, turn at SOS Children’s Village, head towards MINAGRI, and connect with the road from Kacyiru. The route will then pass Meridien station, the University of Kigali roundabout, go behind KBC, they head towards the Ombudsman’s Office traffic lights, they will go to RIB and they will the Rasta’s bridge and they will head to city center roundabout. They will then head to Yamaha, Nyabugongo, Gitikinyoni, Ruriba and they will turn to Norvege (Karama) to Nyamirambo Stadium, Kimisagara to Mutwe road, to 40, Onatracom, down town to the city center roundabout and then continue to Mediheal Poluclinic, and follow the stony road near Women Foundation Ministries, before heading towards the Ombudsman’s Office traffic lights and sprint straight to the finish line at KCC.

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VIDEO: Police announce road closures, alternative routes in Kigali ahead of UCI World Championships