The Ministry of Infrastructure (MININFRA) has officially opened a school that will provide specialized training for drivers of large trucks that cross borders, aimed at increasing the knowledge and professionalism of those working in that profession and helping them compete in the labour market in Rwanda and the region.
The school, named ACPLIRWA Vocational Training Centre (VTC), was built in the industrial zone in Masoro, Gasabo District, and was opened on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. It will teach courses on driver conduct, and the laws and regulations governing road transport, both in Rwanda and in countries of the region, aimed at ensuring drivers carry out their work in line with professional standards.
Those who enroll will spend three months in training and be given a certificate authorizing them to practice the profession. They will also be taught languages widely used in the region, including English, French and Swahili, to help them communicate when working in different countries.
The Acting Director General of the Transport Department at MININFRA, Dusabumuremyi Théogène, said the school comes to address problems that existed in the truck-driving profession and to raise the professionalism of Rwandan and foreign drivers.
He said: “This school is part of the Government of Rwanda’s and the region’s programs. The law provides that a driver who drives trucks, as well as one who transports people in public transport, must have a professional certificate issued after completing the required training.”
He went on to say that freight transport is an important pillar of Rwanda’s economy as a landlocked country, and that building the capacity of drivers will help further improve transport and boost trade.
He said: “The development of trade depends on transport that is done well, characterized by safety, proper handling of vehicles, protection of people and goods being transported, and compliance with the standards governing that profession.”
MININFRA said the school has opened its doors to drivers from the region in which Rwanda is located, aimed at promoting cross-border transport and harmonizing training offered within the region.
Drivers who were already working without specialized training
The Chairperson of the Association of Heavy Truck Drivers (ACPLIRWA), Kanyagisaka Justin, said the school will help address a gap that had existed for a long time in the driving profession.
He explained that drivers often faced challenges caused by changes in laws, technology and vehicle types, yet had nowhere to get training on these matters.
He said: “In the truck-driving profession there have always been many challenges, including changing laws, vehicles and cargo due to development. This school comes to help the driver who needed knowledge on these matters but had nowhere to get it.”
He continued: “There were people who were given a driving license but went into the job without ever having studied the characteristics of the type of vehicle they drove, or who went to work abroad without knowing the laws applicable there. There were also those who transported special cargo such as petroleum products without adequate training. All this knowledge is what this school comes to provide.”
He added that the school’s curriculum was prepared in partnership with the Rwanda Technical and Vocational Education and Training Board (RTB), and that it is expected to help reduce road accidents caused by poor knowledge of vehicles or failure to comply with the law.
Drivers say they are now going to work professionally
Twizerimana Abdallah, who has driven heavy trucks for 5 years, said the school will remove the obstacles they previously faced in practicing the profession without specialized training.
He said: “We used to do this job without sufficient knowledge. Now that we have a school that will train us and give us certificates, it will allow us to work in different countries with confidence and without worries.”
The leader of cross-border truck drivers in Kenya, Sudi Kawuli Matela, said the school will help drivers from the region increase their knowledge and improve their work.
He said: “We are happy to welcome drivers who will study at this school, because our roads are increasingly being used heavily and transport keeps growing.”
He went on to praise how Rwanda prioritizes road safety, saying: “Rwanda is a good example in Africa. We hope other countries can also learn from this example, because reducing accidents requires putting in place good methods to prevent errors and building a culture of complying with the law.”
Meanwhile, Dushimirimana Jacqueline, who has driven heavy trucks for two years, said the school will give value to their profession.
She said: “There was no institution specifically teaching drivers of cross-border trucks. The fact that this school now exists gives us confidence to compete for the same opportunities as drivers from other countries, and it will make our profession gain even more value.”
ACPLIRWA has a target of reducing accidents by 30% within the next 4 years, aiming for a 70% reduction by 2035, and a 98% reduction by 2050.
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