Ecofleet Solutions, the company responsible for managing public transport in Kigali, is testing digital screens at two bus stops to help passengers know when their buses are expected to arrive, with plans to expand the system if the trial proves successful.
The technology is currently being tested near Sonatubes, at a bus stop serving passengers travelling towards Remera, and at Gishushu, where commuters board buses heading to Kigali city centre.
The screens use GPS technology to track buses and display their estimated arrival times, allowing passengers to know whether a bus has departed from its terminal and how long they may have to wait.
Ecofleet Solutions Chief Executive Officer Aubin Rukera told the Rwandan news outlet IGIHE that the current trial was the second attempt to introduce the technology, following an earlier test that failed to produce the expected results.
Rukera said the company would assess the system’s performance before deciding whether to install additional screens at bus stops across Kigali.
“If the trial goes well, we will decide by the end of this month to order another 200 screens,” he said.
He explained that the procurement and delivery process would take at least six weeks, with the company expecting the equipment to arrive by February 2027.
If the trial is successful and implementation proceeds as planned, the additional screens could become operational at bus stops by March 2027.
Alongside the digital displays, Ecofleet is developing a mobile application intended to help passengers plan their journeys more effectively.
The application will allow commuters to identify nearby bus stops, check expected arrival times and determine where to board buses travelling towards their destinations.
Rukera explained that a passenger travelling from Gikondo to Kabuga, for example, would be able to identify the nearest suitable bus stop and see when the bus was expected to arrive.
He said the company was continuing to develop the technology and introduce additional features to improve the information available to commuters.
Both the digital displays and the planned application will rely on GPS technology, with bus movements monitored through a central public transport management facility.
The initiative forms part of changes introduced to Kigali’s public transport system in 2025, when Ecofleet Solutions began overseeing aspects of transport operations, including fare management.
Under the arrangement, transport companies retained responsibility for employing drivers and providing passenger services.
The reforms were intended to address longstanding challenges, including delays at bus terminals and stops, where some operators waited for buses to fill up before allowing them to depart.
Other measures have included increasing the number of buses, introducing dedicated bus lanes and adjusting operating schedules to reduce delays caused by traffic congestion.
Meanwhile, passengers using the new screens at Gishushu have welcomed the initiative, saying it helps them make decisions about their journeys.
Some passengers interviewed by the outlet said knowing when a bus was expected to arrive allowed them to decide whether to continue waiting or use alternative transport, including motorcycle taxis.
“When traffic is not too heavy, this technology works because it saves us from standing in a queue without knowing when the bus will arrive,” one passenger said.
However, commuters also raised concerns about the accuracy of the arrival times displayed during heavy traffic.
They reported instances in which buses arrived later than expected, sometimes reaching the stop almost simultaneously with vehicles that had been scheduled to arrive afterwards.
The passengers called for improvements to ensure that estimated arrival times are regularly updated to reflect changing traffic conditions.
RADIOTV10