List of kings of Rwanda

This article contains a list of kings of Rwanda. The Kingdom of Rwanda was ruled by sovereigns titled mwami (plural abami), and was one of the oldest and the most centralized kingdoms in the history of Central and East Africa.

Mwami of Rwanda
Coat of arms of the Kingdom of Rwanda
Last to reign Kigeli V Ndahindurwa 28 July 1959 – 28 January 1961
Details
Style	His Majesty
First monarch	Gihanga I
Last monarch	Kigeli V Ndahindurwa
Formation	Unknown (ancient times)
Abolition	28 January 1961
Residence	Nyanza, Rwanda
Appointer	Royal Council of Abiru
Pretender(s)	Prince Emmanuel Bushayija

Its state and affairs before King Gihanga I are largely unconfirmed and highly shrouded in mythical tales.

Kings of Rwanda

After Ibimanuka bya Kabiri: The Abami B'Imishumi

• Gihanga I
• Kanyarwanda I Gahima I
• Rukuge^[1]
• Rumeza I
• Yuhi I Musindi
• Rumeza II^[2]
• Nyarume^[2]
• Rubanda (Lugalbanda)^[2]
• Ndahiro I Bamara (Wamala)

14th–20th centuries

The Abami bibitekerezo: Common era Kings
Portrait	Name (Lifespan)	Reign		Notes
		Vansina (2004)[3]	Stewart (2006)[4]
	Ndahiro II Ruyange	–
	Ndahiro III Ndoba	–
	Ndahiro IV Samembe	–
	Nsoro I Samukondo	–
	Nsoro II Byinshi	–	c. 1434–1458
	Ruganzu I Bwimba	–	c. 1458–1482
	Cyilima I Rugwe	–	c. 1482–1506
	Kigeli I Mukobanya	–	c. 1506–1528
	Mibambwe I Sekarongoro I Mutabazi	–	c. 1528–1552
	Yuhi II Gahima II	–	c. 1552–1576	Enumerated as Yuhi I
	Ndahiro II Cyamatare	–	c. 1576–1600
	Ruganzu II Ndoli	–	c. 1600–1624
	Mutara I Nsoro III Semugeshi	–	c. 1624–1648
	Kigeli II Nyamuheshera	–	c. 1648–1672
	Mibambwe II Sekarongoro II Gisanura	c. 1700–1735	c. 1672–1696
	Yuhi III Mazimpaka	1735–1766	c. 1696–1720	Enumerated as Yuhi II .
	Kalemera Rwaka Ntagara	1766–1770	c. 1720–1744
	Cyilima II Rujugira	1770–1786	c. 1744–1768
	Kigeli III Ndabarasa	1786–1796	c. 1768–1792
	Mibambwe III Mutabazi II Sentabyo	1796–1801	c. 1792–1797
	Yuhi IV Gahindiro	1801–1845	c. 1797–1830	Enumerated as Yuhi III
	Mutara II Rwogera (1802–1867)	1845–1867	c. 1830–1853
	Kigeli IV Rwabugiri (1840?–1895)	1867 – September 1895	c. 1853–1895
	Mibambwe IV Rutarindwa	September 1895 – December 1896	c. 1895 – November 1896
20th century
Portrait	Name (Lifespan)	Reign		Notes
	Yuhi V Musinga[5] (1883–1944)	December 1896 – 12 November 1931
	Mutara III Rudahigwa (1911–1959)	12 November 1931[6] – 25 July 1959[7]
	Kigeli V Ndahindurwa (1936–2016[8])	28 July 1959[9][10] – 28 January 1961[11]

Timeline (1700–1961)

Pretenders since 1961

Prince Emmanuel Bushayija (Yuhi VI).

On 28 January 1961, in the coup of Gitarama during what was dubbed the Rwandan Revolution by the Belgian-favored Hutu extremist party Parmehutu, the Belgian colonial overseers abolished the monarchy and Rwanda became a republic^[11] (retroactively approved by a Hutu led referendum held on 25 September of the same year).^[12] Afterwards, Kigeli V Ndahindurwa continued to maintain his claim to the throne until his death on 16 October 2016 in Washington, D.C.^[8] On 9 January 2017, the Royal Council of Abiru announced Prince Emmanuel Bushayija as the new heir to the throne. Prince Emmanuel adopted the regnal name Yuhi VI.^[13]

See also

• Africa portal

• History of Rwanda
• Kingdom of Rwanda
• Ruanda-Urundi
  • List of colonial residents of Rwanda
• List of presidents of Rwanda
• Vice President of Rwanda
• Prime Minister of Rwanda