Kigali is set for a major overhaul of its urban transport system following the World Bank’s approval of $100 million in financing for the Rwanda Urban Mobility Improvement (RUMI) Project.
The initiative aims to make commuting in the capital more efficient, inclusive, and climate-resilient while expanding access to jobs and services.
The project, funded through the International Development Association (IDA), addresses key challenges in Kigali’s mobility landscape—such as limited public transport options, traffic congestion, poor pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, and road safety risks.
A central feature of RUMI is the development of the Nyabugogo multimodal transit hub, expected to become a major transport and commercial center serving up to 180,000 passengers daily by 2030.
The project will also introduce dedicated bus lanes, expand sidewalks and cycling paths, and deploy electric buses with supporting charging infrastructure.
“This project will unlock access to jobs and services, particularly for women and youth, and support Kigali’s ambition to become a public transport–oriented and climate-smart city,” said Sahr Kpundeh, World Bank Country Manager for Rwanda.
Currently, only about one in three jobs in Kigali can be reached within an hour via public transportation.
The new infrastructure aims to change that by enhancing connectivity across the city and supporting reliable, safer, and more inclusive daily travel.
The World Bank’s Senior Urban Transport Specialist for Rwanda, Akiko Kishiue, noted: “By investing in infrastructure, institutions, and innovation, we aim to improve urban mobility while creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs.”
The project also targets gender disparities in the transport sector, where women represent just 4.2% of the workforce.
It will support female participation in transport planning, construction, and operations, including business opportunities at the Nyabugogo hub.
Climate resilience is another key focus. The hub, located in a flood-prone area, will include flood-mitigation features, and the transition to electric buses is expected to cut urban air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
RUMI is co-financed by the European Union and European Investment Bank.
It will be implemented by the City of Kigali in partnership with the Ministry of Infrastructure, Rwanda National Police, Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority, Rwanda Transport Development Agency, and the University of Rwanda.
The initiative aligns with Rwanda’s Vision 2050, the National Strategy for Transformation 2, and the Kigali City Master Plan, which envisions 80% of the city’s population living within a 10-minute walk of a public transport facility by 2030.
