Effective April 1, the entrance fees and other service charges at all Rwandan museums will increase as a means to help museums generate more income and improve service delivery.

Although entrance fees for Rwandans remained at Rwf1,000, that of citizens from the East African Community (EAC) and the Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL) will increase to Rwf3,000 for adults.

Besides the change in the entrance fees, new packages will be introduced where, for instance, a group of 20 people (Rwandans), will pay each Rwf300 while citizens of EAC and CEPGL in a similar group will be charged Rwf500.

Non-residents in a group will pay Rwf2000, according to officials of the Institute of National Museums of Rwanda.

Speaking about the changes, Alphonse Umuliisa, the Director General of the institute, said the increment has been influenced by the introduction of new products in most museums.

"Because we have new objects, images and exhibitions in most of the museums, there is need for money to maintain them. For example at the Ethnographic Museum in Huye, one is able to view the pre-colonial evolution technology which is an important aspect in our history. At this museum, one can also get to see the 100 types of spears that existed in Rwanda. These spears are historical,” Umuliisa explains.

The Natural History Museum-Kigali also known as ‘Kandt House’ currently showcases the different species of snakes that exist in Rwanda.

Umuliisa further added that Ethnographic Museum, King’s Palace Museum-Rukari and the Presidential Palace Museum-Kanombe/Kigali bring in more revenue than the other museums.

"On average in a month, all museums fetch an estimated Rwf30 million. However for the months of December and January, we receive very few people visiting the museums,” Umuliisa reveals.

As for the National Liberation Museum Park-Mulindi, the most recent museum, a visit to President Paul Kagame’s bunker during the liberation struggle costs Rwf10,000.

Other services charged at the museums include photographs and videos as well as hiring gardens and the prices vary depending on the museum.

Osborn Shedruch, Country Manager Greens Journeys Africa, said for tourists, it is normally not about how much one is charged, but rather the experience they will get on visiting the museums.

"Museums in Rwanda offer diverse products so an increase of the entrance fees will not affect tourists. With the need to promote the tourism sector and the economy, the charges are worth it,” he said.

Greens Journeys Africa is a tour company that operates in Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw