Kigali’s smart traffic plan rewires city streets for low-carbon growth

Tuesday 18th November 2025

by inAfrika Newsroom

Kigali is rolling out a $120 million smart traffic and urban mobility plan that aims to cut congestion, speed up commutes and support low-carbon growth. The programme targets seven key junctions, expands bus lanes and deploys intelligent transport systems across Rwanda’s capital.

City planners say the initiative builds on a decade of reforms. Kigali has already replaced many informal minibuses with scheduled routes, introduced a smart card for fares and started work on a bus rapid transit spine. Twice each month, car-free days close main avenues to private vehicles and open them to walkers and cyclists. Air quality monitors show pollution falls when streets shift away from traffic.

The new plan adds a technology layer. Traffic lights at major junctions will use sensors and software to adjust in real time. The city will add dedicated bus lanes and give priority to public transport vehicles at intersections. Officials are also acquiring electric buses, installing charging stations and building a multimodal hub at Nyabugogo that could handle up to 180,000 riders a day by 2030.