Mobility and digital transformation: The case of Kigali, Rwanda

Since the early 2010s, the Rwandan government has been actively pursuing a policy of modernizing public transportation in the capital city of Kigali. Based on fieldwork the authors conducted in 2019, this note examines the role of digital technology in this transformation. The analysis highlights a comprehensive overhaul of the transportation sector, including the ban on informal minibuses, modernization of the bus fleet, restructuring of bus terminals, and the installation of bus stops. Digital tools, such as smart cards for ticketing and the mandatory installation of electronic meters in motorcycle taxis and taxis, have supported these changes. This shift emphasizes increased control over business transactions and mobilities, while also exacerbating the risk of economic or technical exclusion to certain populations.