Rwanda Plans to Establish a National Islands Park by 2028
On June 17, 2025, Juliana Kangeli Muganza, the Deputy CEO of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), announced that Rwanda is working on plans to create a new national park that will bring together various islands, with a target of establishing it by 2028.
She made the remarks during a meeting with members of the Senate’s Committee on Social Affairs and Human Rights, who were presenting findings from a recent field visit to several islands across the country.
Muganza stated that a study conducted in collaboration with multiple stakeholders revealed that some of these islands host unique biodiversity and could be merged to form a protected conservation area or a national park.
She said, “Findings show that several islands have unique ecosystems. There’s a proposal to combine them into a protected area, possibly becoming a National Islands Park in the near future, potentially by 2028.”
However, she pointed out several existing challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, land tenure issues where some plots are neither registered to individuals nor the government, and underdeveloped transport systems, all of which need to be addressed for the project to succeed.
Senator Jean Pierre Dusingizemungu emphasized the potential of the islands to become premium tourism destinations. He highlighted sites such as Nkombo Island, which holds significant historical value, suggesting that it could remain a residential island while others are developed exclusively for high-end tourism.
He said, “We should work closely with local communities and offer fair compensation. From my perspective, the tourism potential of these islands could even surpass that of gorilla tourism in terms of revenue.”
Dusingizemungu also suggested that some islands could be utilized for specialized research in medicinal plants, while others could support beekeeping or dairy farming activities.
The Chairperson of the Committee, Senator Adrie Umuhire, stressed the importance of inclusive planning, recommending that local residents be adequately supported so they don’t become a burden on government resources.
Senator Cyprien Niyomugabo echoed these sentiments, adding that if developed properly, the islands could significantly boost national revenue and that cultural tourism linked to the islands should also be promoted.
He remarked, “These places are truly a blessing.”
As of now, Rwanda has three national parks: Volcanoes National Park, Akagera National Park, and Nyungwe National Park, alongside other key tourist attractions. The tourism sector remains a major contributor to the national economy.
In 2024, Rwanda earned $647 million (over Rwf 932 billion) from tourism, marking a 4.3% increase from the previous year. This growth was largely driven by a 27% rise in revenue from gorilla tourism and an 11% increase in air travel.
