Hands-on training in Rwanda builds skills for sustainable urban mobility
- Thamires Pecis
- Jul 25
- 2 min read
As part of the BOOST project, a hands-on training in E-Mobility & Sustainable Urban Transport, co-organized by the University of Rwanda and UEMI, recently brought together over 40 students and young professionals for two days of learning, collaboration, and practical exploration of sustainable transport.
Held at the University of Rwanda’s Unipod campus, the training was designed to build local expertise in e-mobility by blending technical content with real-world case studies and group-based solution design. Participants came from diverse backgrounds in civil, mechanical, and transportation engineering.
Dr. Ing. Alphonse Nkurunziza, Transport Planner and Lead of the Training, highlighted the importance of this moment for everyone involved and for the development of sustainable urban transport:
“The training was productive and very insightful to participants with a mix of new theoretical concepts and practical knowledge enhanced by e-mobility workshops, demos and field visits to the industry partners BASIGO, KABISA and UR-UNIPOD. The mix of Training experts from the public and private industry as well as academia provided interesting training sessions to the participants.”
Exploring solutions grounded in reality
The programme opened with an overview of Rwanda’s mobility landscape. Challenges like congestion, emissions, and access, and the potential of electric mobility to offer inclusive solutions. Led by Dr. Ing. Alphonse Nkurunziza and experts from the Ministry of Infrastructure, this first session set the stage for discussions grounded in local context but connected to global sustainability goals.
From there, industry practitioners from BASIGO, KABISA, Ampersand, and Second Life Service guided participants through the latest developments in electric buses, charging infrastructure, and battery reuse. Case studies from across Africa showed what is possible, and what hurdles remain, when bringing e-mobility to life on the ground.
From the classroom to collaborative design
The second day gave participants the chance to turn theory into action. Working in multidisciplinary teams, they were challenged to design their own e-mobility solutions for Rwandan cities. Each group considered key factors like vehicle types, infrastructure planning, policies, and business models. The ideas were then pitched in short presentations, a lively and creative exchange that showcased just how much potential this new generation brings.
The training closed with an interactive discussion on careers, research, and entrepreneurship in the e-mobility sector. For many, it was an opportunity to connect the dots between their technical skills and a growing field that offers both purpose and professional opportunity.
Investing in local capacity for global impact
This training reflects UEMI’s commitment to supporting capacity development through locally led, hands-on learning. It is also a step forward for Rwanda, where innovation, ambition, and sustainability are increasingly shaping the country’s urban development.
By the end of the two days, participants walked away with practical knowledge, new networks, and a stronger sense of how they can contribute to transforming mobility in their own cities, as shared by Sugira Rwamurangwa Anthea, participant and graduate from Civil Engineering:
“The Training was a great learning experience that opened my eyes to a side of transportation some people don’t often think about such E-Mobility. [...]. What I learned really inspired me, and now I strongly encourage others to consider using electric vehicles and motorcycles as a better and more eco-friendly way to move around.”