| Founded | 1975 |
|---|---|
| Country |  Rwanda |
| Confederation | CAF |
| Number of teams | 16 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | Second Division |
| Domestic cup(s) | Rwandan Cup |
| International cup(s) | Champions League Confederation Cup |
| Current champions | APR (18th title) (2019–20) |
| Most championships | APR (18 titles) |
| Current: 2019–20 Rwanda Premier League | |
The Rwanda Premier League is the highest division of football in Rwanda. The league was formed in 1975. It was known as the Primus National Football League in 2004 and from 2009–10 to 2012–13,[1] after which sponsorship was taken over by Turbo King.[2] The league was renamed the Azam Rwanda Premier League for the 2015–16 season after Tanzanian television broadcasters Azam TV were announced as sponsors in a deal worth US$ 2.35 million covering a period of five years.[3] From 2019/2020 season AZAM TV announced termination of their contract with Rwanda FA.
Clubs for the 2019–20 season
Gasogi United and Heroes were promoted from division 2 while Kirehe FC and Amagaju FC were relegated from First division
| Team | Location |
|---|---|
| Gasogi United | Kigali |
| APR | Kigali |
| AS Kigali | Kigali |
| Bugesera | Nyamata |
| Espoir | Cyangugu |
| Etincelles | Gisenyi |
| Gicumbi | Byumba |
| Kiyovu Sports | Kigali |
| Marines | Gisenyi |
| Muhanga (R) | Muhanga |
| Mukura Victory | Butare |
| Musanze | Ruhengeri |
| Police | Kigali |
| Rayon Sports | Nyanza |
| Heroes FC | Kigali |
| Sunrise FC | Nyagatare |
Previous champions
- 1969 : Kiyovu Sports (Kigali)
- 1971 : Kiyovu Sports (Kigali)
- 1975 : Rayon Sports (Nyanza)
- 1976–79 : unknown
- 1980 : Panthères Noires (Kigali)
- 1981 : Rayon Sports (Nyanza)
- 1982 : no championship
- 1983 : Kiyovu Sports (Kigali)
- 1984 : Panthères Noires (Kigali)
- 1985 : Panthères Noires (Kigali)
- 1986 : Panthères Noires (Kigali)
- 1987 : Panthères Noires (Kigali)
- 1988 : Mukungwa (Ruhengeri)
- 1989 : Mukungwa (Ruhengeri)
- 1990–91 : no championship
- 1992 : Kiyovu Sports (Kigali)
- 1993 : Kiyovu Sports (Kigali)
- 1994–95 : APR (Kigali)
- 1996 : APR (Kigali)
- 1997 : Rayon Sports (Nyanza)
- 1998 : Rayon Sports (Nyanza)
- 1999 : APR (Kigali)
- 2000 : APR (Kigali)
- 2001 : APR (Kigali)
- 2002 : Rayon Sports (Nyanza)
- 2003 : APR (Kigali)
- 2004 : Rayon Sports (Nyanza)
- 2005 : APR (Kigali)
- 2006 : APR (Kigali)
- 2006–07 : APR (Kigali)
- 2007–08 : ATRACO (Kigali)
- 2008–09 : APR (Kigali)
- 2009–10 : APR (Kigali)
- 2010–11 : APR (Kigali)
- 2011–12 : APR (Kigali)
- 2012–13 : Rayon Sports (Nyanza)
- 2013–14 : APR (Kigali)
- 2014–15 : APR (Kigali)
- 2015–16 : APR (Kigali)
- 2016–17 : Rayon Sports (Nyanza)
- 2017–18 : APR (Kigali)
- 2018–19 : Rayon Sports (Nyanza)
- 2019–20 : APR (Kigali)
Performance by club
| Club | City | Titles | Last Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | Kigali | 18 | 2020 |
| Rayon Sports | Nyanza | 9 | 2019 |
| Panthères Noires | Kigali | 5 | 1987 |
| Kiyovu Sports | Kigali | 6 | 1993 |
| Mukungwa | Ruhengeri | 2 | 1989 |
| ATRACO | Kigali | 1 | 2008 |
Topscorers
| Season | Player | Club | Goals |
| 2001 | Luleuti Kyayuna | APR | 9 |
| 2002 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 2003 | Milly | APR | 12 |
| 2004 | Abed Mulenda Olivier Karekezi | Rayon Sports APR | 14 |
| 2005 | Jimmy Gatete | APR | 13 |
| 2006 | André Lomami | APR | 13 |
| 2006–07 |  Labama Bokota | Rayon Sports | 14 |
| 2007–08 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| 2008–09 | Jean Lomami | ATRACO | 12 |
| 2011–12 | Olivier Karekezi | APR | 14 |
|2019–20 | Samson Babua || Sunrise F.C. || 15 |}
References
- ^ http://www.newtimes.co.rw/news/index.php?i=15158&a=60008
- ^ "Turbo King to take over league sponsorship". newtimes.co.rw. 13 September 2013. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
- ^ "Azam TV to broadcast Rwanda's top tier league". Kawowo Sports. 26 August 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2016.