The Vice Mayor of Kigali in charge of Social Affairs, Urujeni Martine, said more than 9,000 people are engaged in prostitution in Kigali City. She added that solving this issue starts with addressing problems within families.
Announcement at FPR Inkotanyi Meeting
Leaders shared these figures during the General Assembly meeting of FPR Inkotanyi in Nyarugenge District on March 29, 2026.
Increase Compared to Previous Data
The number has grown in recent years. In 2022, the Gender Monitoring Office (GMO) reported that more than 7,000 people were involved in prostitution in Kigali.
Link Between Prostitution and Family Upbringing
During a discussion on building strong families, Vice Mayor Urujeni linked the rise in prostitution to family upbringing.
She said: “In the three districts of Kigali City, we found that those engaged in prostitution exceed 9,000, and more than 4,000 are from Nyarugenge District. This is largely related to upbringing because a parent cannot give what they do not have; they must also have been raised well. Therefore, the families we have that were not properly raised need to be supported so that they can first change their mindset.”
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Proposed Solutions and Government Response
Vice Mayor Urujeni said the city will support families through programs that fight poverty. These programs will help children stay in school, since those out of school face higher risk of bad behavior.
The Executive Administrator of Nyarugenge District, Ingangare Alexis, said prostitution remains a serious concern. He explained that many people involved come from families with different challenges.
He added that the district educates them and encourages them to leave prostitution. It also provides programs that help them find other jobs and avoid returning to that activity.
He said: “That data collection was intended to help us identify those facing this problem so that we can find ways to support them. We have programs to help them find other work, and some have already started leaving prostitution. We hope they will also help educate their peers about the importance of leaving this activity.”
Leaders also discussed other family challenges, including child malnutrition. Members of FPR Inkotanyi were asked to work together to solve these issues and build strong, healthy, and developed families.
