Large electric buses from the BasiGo company are about to start operating routes heading towards Nyanza and Nyamata in Bugesera District.
Previously, these buses operated in various parts of Kigali City, but on Tuesday, October 7, 2024, two more buses were unveiled, one of which will operate on the Nyanza-Nyamata route.
Muhoza Pauphia, in charge of operations at TAP&GO, says that Rwanda prioritizes environmental conservation and climate change mitigation, which is why the idea of introducing electric buses was considered.
She mentioned that people should not be worried as these buses are reliable.
She said, “There were many concerns with the first buses, such as whether they would break down on the road or run out of power. But after about ten months of BasiGo operations, it has been proven that their buses are reliable. Now, there are no concerns, and electric vehicles, which are already in other countries, are working here in our country too. It is something to be proud of, and we have invested significant efforts into it.”
She added that although the number of electric buses is still low, there are plans to bring in 300 more.
These large buses have the special feature of being accessible to people with disabilities.
Muhoza believes Rwanda has made strides in promoting human rights, ensuring that no one is left behind.
She said, “Previously, our buses were not easily accessible to people with disabilities. It is very important that we have now found a solution for them, and we are pleased to see them also using the buses. Any challenges they encounter will be communicated to us so that we can work together to address them.”
Allan Nkweli, BasiGo’s operations manager, says there are currently six buses on the road, but they plan to bring more to facilitate commuters both in Kigali City and in other regions.
He said, “We started with six buses, and passengers really liked them because they don’t make noise. Now, we are bringing 300 buses. People need them and they love them.”
He added that after launching the Nyamata route in Bugesera District, they conducted tests to explore the possibility of operating these buses in areas like Musanze and Huye districts as well.
