The following is a list of national roads in Rwanda. These primary highways are under the jurisdiction of the Rwanda Transport Development Agency (RTDA) under the Ministry of Infrastructure.
The legal framework for these roads is established by the Law N°55/2011 of 14/12/2011 Governing Roads in Rwanda, which classifies national roads as international roads linking Rwanda with neighbouring countries, roads linking districts, or those connecting areas of national importance such as ports and airports.
Following a reclassification process that culminated in the mid-2010s, Rwanda transitioned its road numbering from a French-based system (Route Nationale, RN) to an English-based system (National Road, NR). This change reflects the country's broader administrative shift toward English as an official language following its entry into the Commonwealth of Nations.
National roads The Rwandan national road network is governed by Law N°55/2011 of 14/12/2011 Governing Roads in Rwanda, which classifies national roads as those linking the country to neighbouring states, connecting districts, or serving areas of significant economic and tourist importance.
The network uses the prefix . The primary roads (NR1–NR5) form a radial system originating from Kigali, connecting the capital to major towns and international borders. The remaining routes extend this network further, either as spurs from regional hubs such as Musanze and Muhanga, or as cross-routes linking districts and international borders without passing through Kigali.
+ List of national roads in Rwanda Number Route Length Surface NR1 Kigali – Muhanga – Nyanza – Huye – Akanyaru (border with Burundi) Paved NR2 Kigali – Musanze – Rubavu (border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo) Paved NR3 Kigali – Rukoma – Gatuna (border with Uganda) Paved NR4 Kigali – Rwamagana – Kayonza – Rusumo (border with Tanzania) Paved NR5 Kigali – Nyamata – Nemba (border with Burundi) Paved NR6 Ngoma – Sake – Ramiro – Kibugabuga – Ruhuha – Gasoro – Nyanza – Gitwe Paved and unpaved NR7 Rugobagoba – Kinazi – Ruhango – Gitwe – Buhanda – Kirinda – Birambo – Karongi Unpaved NR8 Nyamiyaga – Gisagara – Akanyaru Bas (border with Burundi) Mostly unpaved NR9 Huye – Kibeho – Ndago – Munini – Bitare (border with Burundi) Paved and unpaved NR10 Huye – Nyamagabe – Kitabi – Buhinga Paved NR11 Ruhwa (border with Burundi) – Bugarama – Rusizi – Buhinga – Karongi – Rusiro – Rubavu Paved and unpaved NR12 Kitabi – Musebeya – Gishyita Unpaved NR13 Musebeya – Kaduha – Buhanda – Kirengeri Unpaved NR14 Nyamagabe – Rukondo – Musange – Mukungu – Gasenyi – Kibuye Unpaved NR15 Muhanga – Nyange – Rubengera Paved NR16 Muhanga – Ngororero – Kabaya – Mukamira Paved NR17 Cyakabili – Nyabikenke – Musanze – Cyanika (border with Uganda) Paved and unpaved NR18 Musanze – Kinigi – Kabatwa – Busasamana – Petite Barrière (border with the DRC) Paved and unpaved NR19 Base – Kiruri – Miyove – Kisaro – Gicumbi – Nyagatare – Ryabega Paved and unpaved NR20 Kiruri – Butaro Unpaved NR21 Kidaho – Butaro – Kivuye – Gicumbi Unpaved NR22 Maya – Rushaki – Kiyombe – Karama – Buziba – Rwempasha – Kizinga (border with Uganda) Unpaved NR23 Rwesero – Rwankuba – Kiramuruzi Unpaved NR24 Kayonza – Kiramuruzi – Kabarore – Gabiro – Kagitumba (border with Uganda) Paved NR25 Rukara – Murundi – Mwiri – Rwinkwavu – Nyankora – Nasho – Mpanga – Nyamugali Unpaved Total
District roads District roads in Rwanda are classified under Law N°55/2011 of 14/12/2011 Governing Roads in Rwanda into two classes:
Class 1 (D1): roads linking different sector headquarters within the same district, or roads used within a single sector. Class 2 (D2): arterial roads connecting district roads to rural community centres inhabited as an agglomeration.
District roads are managed by the infrastructure unit of each district, with technical oversight from . In rural areas, D1 and D2 roads typically only accommodate small trucks during the dry season, with capacity further reduced during the rainy season due to the country's mountainous terrain.
The network uses the prefix . There are 108 classified D1 roads, numbered DR1 to DR108, with a combined length of , of which only are paved. Nearly all D1 roads branch off national roads or other district roads, extending the network into rural areas. A full list of classified D1 roads is maintained by the Rwanda Transport Development Agency.
See also Economy of Rwanda Transport in Rwanda
References
External links Website of RTDA