Transport in Rwanda

Road transport connects Rwanda's regions and neighboring countries and also carries most landlocked freight. MININFRA develops national transport policy and infrastructure strategy. The Rwanda Transport Development Agency, RTDA, manages road construction and maintenance, public transport planning, traffic management, road safety, axle-load control and waterway and railway planning. RURA licenses public transport companies and cooperatives, authorizes corridors and terminals, regulates fares and service quality, and receives complaints. The City of Kigali manages city roads, bus lanes and non-motorized transport. The Rwanda National Police enforces traffic rules, conducts vehicle controls and handles driving tests and licences. REMA addresses vehicle emissions and air quality, while RCAA and RAC cover civil aviation and airports. Licensed public transport includes buses and minibuses, Moto taxis, taxi cabs, car rental, school buses and goods transport. Intercity travel can use electronic tickets or mobile booking, while Kigali uses automated fare collection. Public passenger and goods vehicles must use speed governors. RURA fares are upper limits rather than a single nationwide flat fare, so the amount paid depends on distance, corridor and service. Passengers should keep proof of payment. A fare dispute should first go to the provider and then to RURA if it remains unresolved. The available RURA Moto taxi schedule dated 27 September 2021 listed 300 francs for journeys up to 2 kilometres, 107 francs per kilometre from more than 2 to 40 kilometres, 187 francs per kilometre beyond 40 kilometres and 21 francs per minute for waiting longer than 10 minutes. A separate 2026 confirmation of those Moto taxi figures is not available. Water transport is licensed and must meet minimum standards for safety, comfort, availability and affordability. RURA's FAQ does not set water transport fares. Some Lake Kivu services remain informal, while development has been planned for Lake Kivu and Akagera. Check the provider's current safety arrangements, departure information and price before travelling. Rwanda has no operational railway service. The Isaka-Kigali and Keza-Gitega-Musongati railway corridors remain regional planning or project matters rather than passenger services. Intercity buses and other road services are therefore the main alternatives, with air travel available for some destinations. Kigali International Airport is the international airport identified in the 2024 Aeronautical Information Publication. Kamembe, Butare, Gisenyi, Nemba and Ruhengeri are national airports; flight schedules and service availability require a current check. Vehicles drive on the right. Rwanda generally registers left-hand-drive vehicles. A foreign right-hand-drive vehicle may be used for up to three months after entry, with a possible extension. A driver should carry a valid driving licence, vehicle registration, valid insurance and the long book. A full driving licence is available from age 18 after a valid provisional licence, a driving course and a practical test; the practical test requires a 100 percent result under the stated rules. The application and payment use Irembo, and the card should be available within 10 days after passing. The test vehicle must be roadworthy, have an inspection certificate and have no outstanding fines. E-bikes are currently not accepted for the practical test. The Road Traffic Law in force from 10 March 2026 gives the Rwanda National Police sole responsibility for driving tests and licences. The system includes merit and demerit points. The maximum blood alcohol concentration is 0.80 g/L, and officers may conduct alcohol or drug tests or immobilize a vehicle. Kigali has the strongest walking and cycling infrastructure, including sidewalks, crossings, cycle lanes, bus lanes and the multimodal Nyabugogo interchange. The City Development Strategy 2024-2029 targets 76 kilometres of integrated cycle-lane walkways. The Kigali Car-Free Day takes place on the first and third Sunday of each month from 07:00 to 10:00 as a local practice. Rwanda has no proven uniform national walking and cycling system, so facilities outside Kigali vary considerably. REMA introduced separate emissions and mechanical inspections from May 2025, including motorcycles, with booking through Irembo. Vehicle emissions are identified as a main source of urban air pollution. RURA regulation 011/Energy/RURA/2026 of 29 June 2026 covers electric-vehicle charging infrastructure and battery-swapping stations. Electric motorcycles and buses are being introduced, and the policy target is for electric buses to reach 20 percent of the bus fleet by 2030. Nationwide availability of charging, battery swapping and electric services is not yet established.