In a public statement issued on May 7, King Ngabo said the museum had been closed by the City of Kigali due to “outstanding rental payment obligations” that the museum and the wider art community had been unable to settle financially.
Ngabo further alleged that city authorities had confiscated museum collections, including artworks belonging to artists who had been working and exhibiting in the space, pending payment of the outstanding fees.
“Despite the ongoing challenges facing the cultural and creative economy in our country, and the difficulties visual artists continue to experience due to limited structural support and leadership that fully understands the industry, we remain hopeful that the City of Kigali will preserve and protect these artworks until the matter is resolved,” the statement read.
He described the collections as carrying “deep emotional, historical, educational, and cultural significance” beyond their financial value.
In response, the City of Kigali said the space had initially been provided free of charge from August 2023 to December 2024 as part of efforts to support young creatives and strengthen Rwanda’s cultural and creative industry.
According to the city, a rental arrangement was later introduced after the initiative expanded into a revenue-generating activity with paying visitors.
“As the initiative expanded and began operating as a revenue-generating activity with paying visitors, a rental arrangement was subsequently agreed upon jointly to support the sustainability, maintenance, and proper management of the facility,” the city said in a statement addressed to Ngabo.
The City of Kigali added that several engagements and reminders had been made regarding the obligations under the rental agreement, including discussions involving both the Ministry of Youth and Arts and the city administration.
“We remain firmly committed to supporting youth-led and creative initiatives. At the same time, ensuring the sustainability, proper maintenance, and fair management of public spaces is essential so that such opportunities can continue benefiting many other young creatives in the future,” the statement said.
The city also encouraged tenants to fulfil obligations agreed upon in rental contracts entered into “in good faith.”
Minister of Youth and Arts Dr. Utumatwishima Jean Nepo Abdallah also weighed in on the matter, stating that the arrangement between the City of Kigali and Ngabo was governed by a signed contract rather than a memorandum of understanding.
“Between the CoK and Ngabo, there was a clearly signed contract, not an MoU,” the minister said. “Ngabo couldn’t honour any part of the agreement and later wrote to us. We tried to help him renegotiate with CoK, but he insisted that a museum should simply function the way the artist wants.”
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