Rwanda is a hilly and evergreen country, nicknamed “Land of a thousand hills”, located in East Africa,
between the 1°04’ and 2°51’ Southern Latitudes and between the 28°53’ and 30°53’ Eastern Longitudes .
Rwanda is bordered by Uganda in the north, Tanzania in the East, Burundi in the South, and the
Democratic Republic of the Congo in the West. Rwanda is a landlocked Country. The shortest route to
the ocean is 1,200 km long. Due to its high altitude, Rwanda enjoys a tropical temperate climate. The
average annual temperature ranges between 16 and 20°C, without significant variations. Rainfall is
abundant generally well distributed throughout the year, although it has some irregularities. Rainfall
ranges from about 900 mm in the east and southeast to 1500 mm in the north and northwest volcanic
highland areas. The rainfall patterns are characterized by four seasons, a short rainy season from October
to December and a longer season between March and June. Between these seasons are two dry periods, a
short one in February and March and a long one from July to September. The spatial variability has been
attributed to the complex topography and the existence of large water bodies within the Great Lakes
Region. The temperature is more or less constant throughout the year (16oC – 17oC in the higher altitudes,
18oC – 22oC in the Central Plateau and 22o
– 26oC in the eastern and western lowlands).
Rwanda has a total territorial area of 26,338 km2
with a population of 10,537,2221
( NISR 2012). The
average population density of Rwanda is of 416 inhabitants per km2
, making Rwanda the most populated
Country in Africa and the second in the World. The fertility rate is of 4.6 births per woman, and the
population growth rate stands at 2.6 %. Rwandan economy heavily dependent on rain fed agriculture and
climate is of particular importance.