Ecofleet Solutions, a state-owned company, is set to begin operations aimed at improving public transportation in Kigali starting next month, according to the Director General of Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA), Evariste Rugigana.

Unlike private transport operators that typically wait for buses to fill up before departing, causing delays for passengers, Ecofleet will operate on fixed schedules, departing on time regardless of the number of passengers onboard.

Rugigana made the announcement during a session with the Senate’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Security on October 8. The session was part of the committee’s oversight activities on the implementation of government measures to prevent and manage road accidents.

He was responding to senators’ concerns about the dominance of [private] small-capacity vehicles—including motorcycles—in public transport, and the need to shift towards safer, high-capacity alternatives.

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Rugigana stressed that enhancing public transport systems is a key solution. He highlighted the importance of ensuring that buses adhere to set schedules, depart on time, and do not wait to fill all seats before leaving, which would help reduce passenger delays.

He also pointed to the issue of small cars which contribute to traffic congestion, as you may see a queue of 50 cars, each carrying just one person.

He stated that professionalising public transport to reduce the number of small capacity vehicles on the road, may enhance road safety.

Motorcycles are widely seen by both the government and insurers as a leading cause of road accidents. Their two-wheel design makes them more susceptible to crashes, often resulting in severe injuries or fatalities when riders fall onto hard surfaces like asphalt.

Insurers have raised concerns about the high compensation costs from such accidents, which threaten the sustainability of the insurance industry.

According to information from RURA, taxi-motos account for over 80 per cent of road accidents.

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What’s being done?

In response, Rugigana said, the government established Ecofleet Solutions to operate public transport in Kigali as a public service.

"Currently, public transport is largely operated by private companies that are focused on profit. If a bus isn’t full, it often won’t depart. That causes delays for passengers,” he said.

But, he said that the private operators can’t be entirely blamed as they have bank loans to pay and operating empty buses isn't viable for them.

Ecofleet, however, has a different mandate.

"Its role is to provide public transport as a public service, in partnership with the private sector,” Rugigana stated.

"Under a service level agreement, Ecofleet’s buses will be required to depart on time, regardless of passenger load.”

The company’s launch will be accompanied by infrastructure improvements led by the Rwanda Transport Development Agency (RTDA) and the City of Kigali, which aim to support a more efficient public transport system.

Rugigana noted that once Ecofleet becomes operational, the reliance on motorcycle taxis is expected to decrease, as commuters will have access to faster and more reliable alternatives.

The New Times understands that the fleet managed by Ecofleet includes 200 buses procured by the government in late 2023 and early 2024.

The Chairperson of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Security, Senator Hadija Murangwa Ndangiza, welcomed the establishment of Ecofleet, which is expected to play a key role in managing public transport.

"If the buses operate efficiently, the number of other vehicles on the road will naturally decrease,” she said, urging all relevant institutions to put in the necessary effort to ensure the effective implementation of measures aimed at addressing challenges in the road transport sector.