– December 1896, Marangara province, Nyanza, German East Africa)[2] was Mwami of Rwanda between September 1895 and December 1896, having been made co-ruler by his father Kigeli IV Rwabugiri in 1889.
[3] His adopted father,[4][5] Kigeli IV Rwabugiri, had proclaimed him co-ruler in 1889,[6][7] effectively designating him his successor.
[8] On Rwabugiri's unexpected death in 1895 while on an expedition in modern-day Democratic Republic of the Congo, he was proclaimed king.
[8][9] This culminated in late 1896 in a battle between the King's and the Queen Mother's factions called the Rucunshu Coup,[9][10] named for the hill that Rutarindwa had moved his court to.
[11] After the battle, Rutarindwa committed suicide,[11][12][13] and the royal drum was destroyed when his house was burnt down.