Rwanda: Questions Arise After the Closure of Château Le Marara Hotel Amid Recent Controversy

The Rwanda Development Board (RDB) announced on Tuesday that it has temporarily shut down the Château Le Marara Hotel, located on the shores of Lake Kivu in the country’s Western Province, after investigations revealed that the hotel had been operating without a valid license.

The decision sparked widespread debate on social media, especially following a recent wave of public attention surrounding the hotel. As of now, the hotel has not issued any statement in response to RDB’s announcement, which was made late Monday night.

In early July, the hotel    known for its European-style architecture and picturesque hillside location    hosted a high-profile wedding attended by popular Rwandan public figures, including two former Miss Rwanda titleholders. Just two weeks after the event, some attendees took to social media to express their dissatisfaction, criticizing what they described as “very poor service” despite the hotel charging around \$200 (approx. 300,000 Rwandan francs) per night for a room.

Their complaints were accompanied by images and videos highlighting substandard services, fueling nationwide discourse over the hotel’s management and service delivery.

In a letter seen by the BBC, the hotel informed the wedding organizers that they still owed RWF 5 million (approx. \$4,000) for additional services provided during the event. The hotel accused the clients of breaching their agreement and failing to settle their dues. Furthermore, last week the hotel filed a complaint with Rwanda’s investigative bureau (RIB), accusing the couple of defamation and fraud in an alleged attempt to avoid payment.

Public opinion has since been divided. Some criticized the hotel for poor service, citing wedding guest complaints, while others faulted the event organizers for refusing to pay and resorting to tarnishing the hotel’s reputation instead.

Last week, RDB’s CEO told   The New Times   newspaper that the institution was still gathering facts to fully understand the matter before making a final decision.

“Was It Operating Without a License All Along?” Public Questions Mount

Following RDB’s suspension of the hotel for operating “without a license,” many social media users raised concerns about how the establishment could have been operating for nearly two years without proper authorization.

Château Le Marara quickly became one of Rwanda’s most talked-about hotels due to its unique architecture and prime location overlooking Lake Kivu. Even before it officially opened, the hotel was featured in a popular Rwandan music video.

On platform X (formerly Twitter), one user responded to RDB’s announcement, saying:

“How does such a prominent hotel operate openly without a license    and RDB didn’t know? You owe us an explanation!”

Another user echoed the sentiment:

“We’ve all seen this hotel running for years. Now you’re telling us it was unlicensed all along? Come on!”

Emmanuel Twagirayezu also posted:

“This is unbelievable! How can a hotel of that scale operate for years without documents? RDB must explain. The president is right    some leaders are failing in their duties, playing with citizens’ emotions and money.”

Aline added:

“Stop lying to us. You can’t do anything in this country without documents    even a small neighborhood boutique will be raided by all authorities, including the tax agency. Now you say Château Le Marara has no license? Really?”

The story continues to unfold, with the public demanding transparency and accountability not only from the hotel but also from government institutions responsible for regulating such businesses.