📖 About Butare

Butare, officially renamed Huye in 2006, is Rwanda's second-largest city and its intellectual and cultural capital. Located in the Southern Province, the city is home to the country's oldest and most prestigious university.

Known as the "intellectual capital" of Rwanda, Butare hosts the National University of Rwanda (now University of Rwanda - Huye Campus), established in 1963, and the renowned National Museum of Rwanda.

At an altitude of about 1,768 meters, Butare enjoys a pleasant climate and is characterized by its academic atmosphere, colonial-era architecture, and important cultural institutions.

🎯 Top Attractions

💼 Economy & Culture

Education is the cornerstone of Butare's economy. The University of Rwanda's Huye campus attracts students from across the country and the broader East African region.

Agriculture, particularly coffee cultivation and food crops, supports the surrounding rural economy. The city serves as a regional market center for southern Rwanda.

Butare is celebrated for preserving Rwandan cultural traditions. The National Museum houses the country's finest collection of cultural artifacts, while traditional dance troupes maintain the heritage of Intore warriors.

📜 History

Butare was developed during the colonial period and served as the intellectual center of Belgian Rwanda. The city was briefly the capital before independence, when administration moved to Kigali.

The National University was established in 1963, cementing Butare's role as Rwanda's educational hub. The city suffered during the 1994 genocide but has since rebuilt as a symbol of reconciliation.

Renamed Huye in 2006 as part of administrative reforms, the city continues its mission as Rwanda's cultural guardian while embracing development and modernization.