KIBEHO, Rwanda – With the number of pilgrims visiting the continent’s only Vatican-approved Marian apparition site more than doubling to 1.2 million annually, local authorities in Nyaruguru District are racing to resolve a chronic shortage of accommodation. For years, it has been customary for many pilgrims coming to Kibeho for major feasts especially the Assumption of Mary on August 15 and the anniversary of the apparitions on November 28—to endure sleepless nights, with nowhere to lay their heads. Now, officials confirm that 2026 will mark a turning point.
Tourism Boom Outpaces Infrastructure
The rolling hills of southern Rwanda have witnessed a dramatic surge in religious tourism. According to Janvier Gashema, Nyaruguru’s Deputy Mayor in charge of Economic Development, the annual number of visitors has doubled from 600,000 just a few years ago to 1.2 million today.
“We have people sleeping outside because there simply aren’t enough roofs,” Gashema told investors late last year. “Investors in hotels and restaurants of different categories are urgently needed”.
The district currently has only 496 accommodation rooms—a fraction of the demand. To address this, the government has unveiled an ambitious long-term goal to attract 15 million pilgrims annually within the next decade, a figure that would rival global destinations like Lourdes, Jerusalem, and Fatima.
New Hotels and Expansions Nearing Completion
Dr. Emmanuel Murwanashyaka, Mayor of Nyaruguru District, has announced that this year, 300 new rooms will be ready to welcome guests. Key among these is the newly constructed Hotel de Kibeho, built by the Catholic Church at a cost of 2.2 billion Rwandan Francs. The facility boasts 35 rooms, including dedicated spaces for VIP and VVIP guests, providing a level of comfort previously unavailable in the area.
Additionally, the Pacis Hotel, operated by the Benebikira Sisters, is undergoing a significant expansion. Sister Marie Emilienne Umutesi, who manages the facility, explained that beyond the existing 36 rooms and 68 dormitory beds, they are adding new units capable of hosting approximately 200 more guests. “We have built 46 rooms, including units with two beds each, as well as communal dormitories that can accommodate over 120 people,” she said. She added that each room includes private bathroom facilities, and the dormitories are designed with high ceilings and non-adjoining beds to ensure comfort, all set within serene gardens perfect for prayer and reflection. The construction of these facilities cost over 800 million Rwandan Francs.
Call for More Private Investment
Mayor Murwanashyaka noted that there are more projects in the pipeline. “We have additional lodging being built, including facilities in Nyarushishi and the EAR Guest House,” he said. He also revealed that other entrepreneurs, including health professionals, are in the process of obtaining permits to construct their own lodging facilities.
Michelle Umurungi, Deputy CEO of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), has urged Nyaruguru residents not to rely solely on outside investors but to actively engage in developing their district, exploring opportunities in potato farming, value addition, and the potential offered by Nyungwe National Park.
Historical Context
Kibeho holds a unique place in Catholic history. The apparitions of the Virgin Mary began on November 28, 1981, appearing to three schoolgirls, Alphonsine Mumureke, Nathalie Mukamazimpaka, and Marie-Claire Mukangango. The messages reportedly included an apocalyptic vision of Rwanda descending into violence, which many believe foretold the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The local Bishop officially recognized the apparitions as authentic on June 29, 2001.
As Rwanda prepares to mark the 45th anniversary of the apparitions this coming November, the transformation of Kibeho from a quiet hilltop town into a modern pilgrimage city is accelerating, promising a more dignified and comfortable spiritual journey for millions of the faithful.
