Several large-scale infrastructure, transport and technology projects are expected to shape Rwanda’s development agenda starting in 2026. From modern transport hubs and upgraded roads to digital identification and drone innovation, these projects are among the most significant ones to watch. 1. Modern Nyabugogo bus terminal The City of Kigali is planning a major transformation of the Nyabugogo bus terminal into a modern, “airport-like” hub. Speaking during a parliamentary session which was assessing government actions on urban development, housing and land use as well as management, on December 5, the Mayor of the City of Kigali, Samuel Dusengiyumva, said the resources needed to implement the project are available. “We have the resources to build the Nyabugogo terminal. We are going to invest heavily in it because it will be designed like an airport,” he said. Officials had previously said the uplift could cost up to $100 million (over Rwf145 billion). ALSO READ: Nyabugogo bus terminal to get $100 million facelift Dusengiyumva explained that the new terminal will include different service categories, including business lounges, to better serve the growing number of regional travellers and tourists arriving by road from neighbouring countries. “We receive many tourists who travel by road from Kenya and Uganda, yet they arrive at a terminal that does not reflect a modern city. That is what we want to change,” he said. According to the mayor, detailed designs are expected to be completed by June 2026, with construction scheduled to start around August 2026. The project is expected to take about three years to complete. The development will also be integrated with the ongoing restoration of the Nyabugogo wetland – into a facility having lake-like features – while future phases will focus on linking the terminal to nearby commercial zones, Mpazi and a garage area in Kimisagara. Under the Rwanda Urban Mobility Improvement (RUMI) Project, Kigali also plans to introduce a dedicated bus lane as part of the terminal upgrade. Over Rwf19 billion was allocated to the project in the 2025/26 financial year, with funding projected to rise to more than Rwf82 billion by 2027/28. Total project costs are expected to exceed Rwf288 billion. Backed by the World Bank, the project targets completion by 2030 and aligns with national development goals, including Vision 2050. 2. Issuance of digital IDs The government is preparing to roll out a national digital identification system, allowing residents to begin using digital IDs from June 2026. According to National Identification Agency (NIDA), the project is expected to cost more than €50 million (over Rwf85 billion). As of November 20, 2025, more than 300,000 people had already registered for the new digital ID. ALSO READ: Registration for Digital ID begins with Southern Province The digital ID is designed to improve service delivery by enabling secure remote access to services. Unlike the physical ID, which often requires in-person verification, the digital ID allows users to access services online. The system complies with Electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) regulations and Rwanda’s personal data protection and privacy law. Individuals retain control over their data, and access requires their explicit consent. The digital ID will also eliminate challenges associated with losing physical IDs or forgetting identification numbers. Since the system relies on secure biometric data—such as fingerprints, iris scans and facial recognition—users will still be able to access services even if they forget their digital ID number. Recovery will be possible instantly at service centres or through Irembo – the government’s online services portal. 3. Prince House–Giporoso–Masaka road upgrade The government earmarked more than Rwf16 billion in the 2025/26 financial year for upgrading the busy 10-kilometre Prince House–Giporoso–Masaka road, according to the Ministry of Infrastructure. The project involves expanding the road from two lanes to four lanes and constructing a flyover of more than one kilometre to ease growing traffic congestion along the corridor. ALSO READ: PHOTOS: Major properties likely to be affected by Giporoso–Masaka road upgrades The total cost of the project is estimated at more than 437 million Chinese yuan (about $60.5 million or Rwf86 billion). It will be financed by China and is expected to be completed by July 2028. The project was presented by the Ministry of Infrastructure during the 2025/26 budget hearings with the parliamentary Committee on State Budget and Patrimony. Rwanda Transport Development Agency (RTDA) Director General Imena Munyampenda told the committee that the road is among key infrastructure projects slated for execution in the 2025/26 fiscal year. “We expect to start actual construction works in January 2026,” he said, adding that funds for expropriation have already been allocated to allow implementation to proceed. Demolition of properties has started, making way for the road upgrade works. 4. Electrification of public transport buses in Kigali All public transport buses operating in Kigali are expected to be electric by the end of 2026, according to the Ministry of Infrastructure. ALSO READ: How Kigali's new public transport model will work The move is part of a new public transport model introduced in December 2025, aimed at making urban mobility more reliable, efficient and environmentally friendly. The model may later be extended to other urban areas in the country. In June 2025, the City of Kigali announced a ban on the entry of new diesel-powered public buses, in favour of electric ones. The decision, which the city said was set to take effect by the end of 2025, aligns with Rwanda’s broader push to embrace e-mobility. 5. Kigali–Muhanga road upgrade The upgrade of the 45-kilometre Kigali–Muhanga road is scheduled to begin in the 2025/26 fiscal year, according to the Rwanda Transport Development Agency (RTDA). The project includes rehabilitation of the road, expansion of a 12.2-kilometre section from two lanes to four lanes in congested urban areas, and construction of 11.9 kilometres of climbing lanes to allow heavy trucks to move without slowing down traffic. “If everything goes well, we expect to have a contractor by January or February 2026 so that rehabilitation can begin,” Munyampenda told the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in June. In 2023, Parliament passed a law ratifying a $120 million (over Rwf170 billion) loan agreement for the project. The agreement was signed between the Government of Rwanda and the Export-Import Bank of Korea in September 2023. 6. Drone Operation Centre A Drone Operation Centre expected to be completed in 2026 was allocated more than Rwf3.3 billion in the current financial year, according to the Ministry of ICT and Innovation (MINICT). The project aims to support the development, regulation and use of unmanned aircraft systems in Rwanda. The facility will be located in Huye District, Southern Province, on land currently occupied by the Huye aerodrome. MINICT says the centre aligns with Rwanda’s ambition to become a regional ICT hub. It will host drone students, designers and pilots, and support drone manufacturing, testing, training, and research and development. The centre will also include space for recreational and hobbyist drone activities, allowing beginners to fly drones safely under controlled conditions.
