Rwanda is set to become the first country in Africa and the first outside the United States to introduce large-scale urban drone deliveries to homes, following a new USD 150 million expansion deal with American robotics company Zipline.
Under the agreement, drones will deliver foodstuffs and critical healthcare supplies such as blood and medicines directly to households and health facilities, starting in Kigali before expanding to other cities.
Pilot testing is scheduled to begin in August this year, with full operations expected by 2027.
Why Rwanda?
Speaking to Taarifa, Caitlin Burton, CEO of Zipline Africa, said Rwanda was selected as the pilot country due to its long-standing commitment to innovation and supportive regulatory environment.
“Zipline exists to use drones to deliver healthcare essentials like blood and medicines in real time,” Burton said.
“Rwanda is unique because it consistently supports and fast-tracks technology that improves access to healthcare, even in hard-to-reach villages. There is no hesitation when it comes to innovation that saves lives.”
She explained that the new agreement builds on Zipline’s successful track record in the country and allows the company to scale up operations.
New Drone Hub to Serve Western Rwanda
As part of the expansion, Zipline will establish a third drone hub in Karongi District, complementing existing hubs in Muhanga and Kayonza.
The Karongi hub will serve Rwanda’s western regions, where challenging terrain has often delayed the delivery of medical supplies.
“Healthcare facilities in the western part of the country have faced difficulties receiving blood and medicines in real time because of the terrain,” Burton said. “The Karongi hub will change that completely.”
Urban Drone Deliveries in Kigali
In a first for Africa, Zipline will also introduce an urban delivery system in Kigali, targeting both healthcare facilities and private households.
“Urban centers are densely populated and often congested,” Burton noted. “Drones allow us to bypass traffic and deliver medicines, blood, and other essentials to doorsteps quickly and reliably. This will significantly strengthen Rwanda’s healthcare system.”
The system, which has already been tested successfully in Texas, USA, will initially serve Kigali, Musanze and Rubavu before expanding to other cities.
Advanced Drone Technology
The new deliveries will be carried out using Zipline’s Platform 2 (P2) drones, which can carry 4–5 kilograms, fly up to 25 kilometers per trip, and reach speeds of 100 km/h.
This means a delivery anywhere within Kigali can be completed in about 15 minutes.
Unlike earlier models that dropped packages by parachute, the P2 drones use a secure tether system to gently lower packages to the ground.
Zipline says it is working closely with supermarkets, pharmacies, and restaurants to ensure pricing remains affordable as the service expands beyond healthcare.
Government Hails “Game-Changer” for Healthcare
The Rwandan government has welcomed the initiative, describing it as transformative for both urban and rural healthcare.
Jeanne Umuhire, Deputy Director at the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), said the partnership reflects Rwanda’s forward-thinking approach.
“Rwanda always thinks big,” Umuhire said.
“We have worked closely with Zipline on the feasibility of this project, and we are confident it will greatly improve healthcare delivery especially for time-sensitive commodities.”
She added that although 40 percent of health centers are located in urban areas, many patients from rural communities depend on urban facilities for specialized care.
“This agreement will ensure real-time delivery of medical supplies while also creating jobs and equipping young Rwandan engineers with advanced skills,” she said.
Local Workforce, Regional Ambitions
According to Pierre Kayitana, Zipline’s General Manager in Rwanda, the new agreement marks a major milestone after a decade of operations in the country.
“We have been delivering medical supplies across Rwanda for the past 10 years,” Kayitana said. “Today, we are renewing our agreement with the government to introduce a new hub in Karongi and launch home deliveries in Kigali. Rwanda is the first country to sign this kind of agreement with Zipline.”
Zipline currently operates more than 70 drones in Rwanda and plans to import more to expand coverage both nationally and in neighboring countries.
The company employs 100 percent Rwandan staff, most of them young engineers.
Zipline works in partnership with the Rwanda Biomedical Centre, the Civil Aviation Authority, the Government of Rwanda, and the U.S. Embassy.
A Global First in the Making
If implemented as planned, the initiative will place Rwanda among a small group of countries globally to deploy large scale drone deliveries directly to homes, reinforcing the country’s reputation as a leader in technology-driven healthcare solutions in Africa.
