This information may change. Always check the official source.Last verified: August 2026 by

Four socket types, three languages, and no plastic bags

Sockets take C, E, F and G. English, French and Kinyarwanda are all official, and the plastic bag ban is a national point of pride.

Power

  • 230 V, 50 Hz, sockets type , , and . The British three-pin and the European round two-pin both appear, sometimes in the same building.
  • Bring a universal adapter rather than guessing.

Language

  • Kinyarwanda, English, French and Swahili are all official.
  • English is the language of education and business since the 2008 switch, so younger people and anyone in tourism speak it well.
  • French is still widely understood by anyone over about forty.
  • "Muraho" is hello and "murakoze" is thank you.

The plastic bag ban

  • It has been in force since 2008 and it is enforced at the border. Rwanda's cleanliness is not an accident and visitors are expected to participate.
  • Bring a fabric bag for shopping.

Rhythm

  • Umuganda, the last Saturday of the month, 07:00 to 11:00. Most services close.
  • Kigali goes car-free on the first and third Sunday morning.
  • Time is UTC+2 with no daylight saving.

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Sources (3)

What this guide was checked against. Rules and prices change — follow the official link before you rely on a detail.