Independence Day 2024, 2025 and 2026 in Rwanda
Rwanda’s Independence Day is every 1 July to celebrate the day in 1962 when Rwanda was freed from Belgian colonial rule and became an independent nation.
| Year | Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 Jul | Mon | Independence Day |
| 2025 | 1 Jul | Tue | Independence Day |
| 2026 | 1 Jul | Wed | Independence Day |
| Please scroll down to end of page for previous years' dates. | |||
Rwanda had a long, difficult road to independence, and there was much social and racial unrest along the way. In the late 1800’s, Germany took control over Rwanda as part of “German East Africa”. But their rule was short-lived, as Belgian forces invaded Rwanda during World War I and thereafter kept control of it, along with their nearby colony of Belgian Congo.
But after World War II, Rwanda became a UN trust territory of Belgium, and an independence revolt broke out in 1959. Finally, Rwandans voted for independence in 1961 and established a monarchy.
Previous Years
| Year | Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 Jul | Sat | Independence Day |
| 3 Jul | Mon | Independence Day Holiday | |
| 2022 | 1 Jul | Fri | Independence Day |
| 2021 | 1 Jul | Thu | Independence Day |
| 2020 | 1 Jul | Wed | Independence Day |
| 2019 | 1 Jul | Mon | Independence Day |
| 2018 | 1 Jul | Sun | Independence Day |
| 2 Jul | Mon | Independence Day Holiday | |
| 2017 | 1 Jul | Sat | Independence Day |
| 3 Jul | Mon | Independence Day Holiday |