In a correspondence dated April 14, 2026, the Ministry of Infrastructure instructed the finance directors of all public institutions to ensure that at least 30% of all newly acquired vehicles are electric. According to this letter, “this directive is part of the government’s efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, particularly oil and diesel, as well as to decrease greenhouse gas emissions.”
Specifically, the goal is to reduce emissions by 38% by 2030, with vehicles contributing to about 12% of national emissions. In line with this, the government had already implemented the promotion of electric mobility in public transportation. In Kigali, the number of electric buses is gradually increasing, along with the growing adoption of electric motorcycles.
The implementation of this measure will be facilitated by the wealth of the Rwandan electric mobility market from several brands. South Korean manufacturers Kia and Hyundai, as well as Chinese brands BYD and Dongfeng, are mentioned. Nissan and Toyota also contribute with the hybrid RAV4 model.
At the Ministry of Infrastructure, it was emphasized that this requirement is mandatory. The minister warns against any deviation from this rule, which must be duly justified. In such cases, prior approval from the ministry will be required.
According to official data, “43% of vehicles imported to Rwanda are hybrid models.” The same sources indicate that, “in the public transportation sector, 2,084 buses were imported in 2021, 2,287 in 2022, and 2,892 in 2023, representing an average annual growth rate of 17.8%.” In 2024, Rwanda had 512 fully electric vehicles and 7,172 hybrid vehicles, excluding electric buses.
Furthermore, the government recently acquired 300 buses for Kigali’s public transport network, some of which are electric. Finally, the agency responsible for public transportation announced that future shuttle services connecting Kigali International Airport to various hotels in the capital will soon be exclusively operated by electric vehicles.
