A republic in eastern Africa, south of UGANDA and east of DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO. It was originally called Ruanda. Its capital is Kigali. Formerly part of the Belgian trust territory of Ruanda-Urundi (now RWANDA and BURUNDI), it became independent in 1962. The country has taken the name of the people, the Rwanda, but its meaning is unknown. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p1038 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p469).