Museum · Gishushu, Kimihurura, Gasabo District, Kigali

Campaign Against Genocide Museum

Museum in Rwanda's Parliament buildings telling how the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi was stopped

Ambient sound · similar settingRobin-chat song in highland forest undergrowth

Photo: Emmanuelkwizera / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Discover Campaign Against Genocide Museum

The Parliament buildings in Gishushu look like any modern seat of government, but their walls hold a crucial chapter of Rwanda's history. In 1994 this complex housed a small battalion of soldiers whose actions during the Genocide against the Tutsi are now told in the Campaign Against Genocide Museum, opened here in 2017.

Where the Kigali Genocide Memorial focuses on remembrance of the victims, this museum explains how the genocide was halted. Through photographs, documents, film, a machine-gun position on the roof and outdoor monuments, it presents the campaign from the perspective of the Rwandan Patriotic Army, and many visitors find it answers questions that remain after a visit to Gisozi.

Don’t miss

01Indoor galleries on the political history leading to 1994 and the campaign to stop the genocide
02The rooftop machine-gun position used to defend the building in 1994
03Outdoor monuments and statues depicting the soldiers of the battalion
04Recreated trenches and defensive positions around the complex
05Accounts of rescue operations that brought civilians to safety

History & culture

The story of Campaign Against Genocide Museum

Under the peace process of the early 1990s, a battalion of around 600 soldiers of the Rwandan Patriotic Army was stationed at the building then known as the CND, which now houses Parliament, from December 1993. Their role was to protect the movement's representatives preparing to join a transitional government and assembly.

When the Genocide against the Tutsi began on 7 April 1994, following the shooting down of President Habyarimana's plane the previous evening, the battalion left its compound on orders to stop the killing and rescue as many people as possible. The soldiers held their position against a far larger force as the wider campaign continued until July 1994.

The museum was inaugurated on 13 December 2017 by President Paul Kagame. It is managed by the Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy, and in 2021 it added an outdoor section with large statues of soldiers and recreated defensive positions.

Local life & traditions

For many Rwandans, the story told here is a source of national pride and part of how the country remembers 1994. School groups, public servants and official delegations regularly visit, especially during the Kwibuka commemoration period from April and around Liberation Day on 4 July. The museum presents an official national narrative, and visiting with that in mind helps you understand how Rwanda tells its recent history.

Things to do

Experience it like a local

Most visits are guided, with museum staff leading visitors through the indoor galleries before heading up to the roof and out to the monuments in the grounds. Guides are knowledgeable and welcome questions, which makes this a good place to deepen understanding gained at the Kigali Genocide Memorial. Allow around an hour to an hour and a half.

Because the museum sits within a working Parliament complex, expect security checks and follow your guide's instructions on where you may walk and photograph.

When to go

The museum is mostly indoors and open year-round, so it suits any season, and the drier months make the outdoor monuments and rooftop more pleasant. Morning visits tend to be quieter. It is closed on 7 April, the start of genocide commemoration, and on Christmas Day and New Year's Day, and opens later on the last Saturday of each month because of Umuganda.

Plan your visit

Verified information

Opening hours: National museums are open daily 9:00am to 5:00pm; on Umuganda (last Saturday of the month) they open at 12:00pm Source: rwandaheritage.gov.rw ↗
Closures: Closed on 7 April, 25 December and 1 January Source: rwandaheritage.gov.rw ↗
Payment: Museum services are paid through Irembo (irembo.gov.rw) or IremboPay; groups of 30 or more receive a discount Source: rwandaheritage.gov.rw ↗
Photography and filming: Requires prior approval from the Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy; fees apply for event photography and video Source: rwandaheritage.gov.rw ↗
Managing authority: Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy, which runs Rwanda's national museums Source: rwandaheritage.gov.rw ↗
Opened: Inaugurated on 13 December 2017 by President Paul Kagame, within the Parliament buildings Source: paulkagame.rw ↗
Location: In the Parliament buildings, about 800 m behind the Convention Centre road junction Source: kigalicity.gov.rw ↗

Checked against the sources on 27 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.

Travel tips

Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial first for context, then come here to learn how the genocide was stopped.
Carry your passport or ID; the museum is inside a government complex with security checks.
Check current entry fees and pay via Irembo in advance if possible.
Ask your guide before taking photographs, particularly of Parliament buildings and security staff.
Dress respectfully and wear comfortable shoes for the rooftop stairs and outdoor area.

General guidance from our specialists, not official information.

Around Campaign Against Genocide Museum: food, markets & places to stay

The museum lies in Gishushu, close to the Kigali Convention Centre and the busy Remera and Kimihurura districts, with plenty of cafés and restaurants within a short drive. Kigali International Airport in Kanombe is roughly ten minutes away by car, making this an easy visit at the start or end of a trip. Taxis and moto-taxis are readily available.