Gahini Explained

Official Name:Gahini
Settlement Type:Sector and village
Pushpin Map:Rwanda
Pushpin Label Position:bottom
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Rwanda
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name1:Eastern Province
Subdivision Name2:Kayonza
Area Total Km2:201.7
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population As Of:2022 census
Population Total:46009
Population Urban:7917
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone:CAT
Utc Offset:+2
Timezone Dst:not observed
Utc Offset Dst:+2
Coordinates:-1.8425°N 30.4824°W
Elevation M:1520
Elevation Ft:4990

Gahini is a sector and village in Kayonza District, Eastern Province, Rwanda. It is situated on a hill, at an altitude of 1,520 metres (4,990 ft) above sea-level, close to the eastern edge of Lake Muhazi and 73km (45miles) by road from the capital, Kigali. The village is the centre of one of the nine dioceses of the Eglise Episcopale au Rwanda, the Anglican church of Rwanda, and one of the four Rwandan sites chosen by the Church Missionary Society, who built a large mission, hospital and schools in the village.

History

Little is known of Gahini in pre-colonial times, but under German and Belgian rule the village became an important transport junction[2] linking the lake with the north-south and eastbound roads. From 1922 the area was temporarily under British control as part of the surveying process for the proposed Cape-Cairo railway, which enabled Doctors Leonard Sharp and Zoe Stanley Smith of the Church Missionary Society, to start missionary and medical work across eastern Ruanda.[3] This land was returned to Belgium in 1924 but the rulers allowed the Church Missionary Society to continue its work, which meant a permanent mission could then be set up. Geoffrey Holmes, a good friend of the Rwandan King Musinga, was in charge of this enterprise and he chose Gahini to be the site. He was joined by Rev Herbert Jackson and Kosiya Shalita, a native of Gahini who had fled to Uganda 30 years earlier, become a Christian, and now wished to return home.[2]

Economy and tourism

Gahini hospital, established by John Edward Church of the Church Missionary Society,[4] is one of the largest in the Eastern Province with facilities including maternity, orthopaedic surgery, HIV treatment, a rehabilitation centre for persons with physical disabilities and an eye clinic used by patients from across Rwanda.[5] There is cell called video center which is most popular and most economical activities are done there.The Muhazi lake shore at Gahini is popular with tourists and features two resorts: the Seeds of Peace centre, which offers accommodation, and Jambo Beach.[6] These are used both as stop off points for journeys to or from Akagera National Park, and as venues for lake tourism, offering boating, fishing and bird watching.[7]

Notable people

See also

Notes and References

  1. http://www.citypopulation.de/en/rwanda/sector/admin/kayonza/5401__gahini/ Citypopulation.de
  2. Katharine Makower (1999) The Coming of the Rain, p. 56. Paternoster Press.
  3. Katharine Makower (1999) The Coming of the Rain, p. 55. Paternoster Press.
  4. Web site: Church Mission Society Periodicals. CMS. 23 December 2017.
  5. Broadie, Paul (2005) Gahini Hospital, Rwanda Manto Creative Media Accessed 23 February 2010.
  6. Briggs, Philip & Booth, Janice (2006) Rwanda - The Bradt Travel Guide, p. 218, 3rd ed. London: Bradt Travel Guides.
  7. Dusabe, Caroline (7 March 2009). "The Thrills At Lake Muhazi, Jambo Beach". East African Business Week (Kampala). Accessed 23 February 2010.