Getting Around Kigali: Buses, Moto-Taxis, Taxis and Ride Apps (2026)

The options at a glance

Option	How the fare works	A 5 km ride	Best for
City bus	RWF 59.28 per km (RURA, April 2026)	About RWF 300	Main routes on a budget
Moto-taxi	RWF 400 for the first 2 km, then RWF 117 per km (RURA)	About RWF 750	Speed, short hops, solo travel
Ride app (Yego, Move)	RWF 1,800 for the first km, then RWF 180 per km	About RWF 2,500	Comfort, evenings, luggage
Street taxi	RWF 1,500 for the first km, then RWF 700 per km (RURA)	About RWF 4,300	When no app car is nearby

About these fares: bus, moto and taxi fares come from the official tariffs of RURA, the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority; ride-app rates are as reported in October 2026. The 5 km column is our own calculation. Tariffs are revised after MINICOM announces new fuel prices, and RURA then publishes the updated rates. Check rura.rw for the latest.

How each option works

City bus

Buses and the Tap&Go card

Buses don't take cash: you pay with a Tap&Go card, sold by vendors at bus parks and most stops. Top it up with the same vendors or by mobile money.

Bus-only lanes run at peak times, 6:00–10:00 and 17:00–21:00, which has cut rush-hour waits sharply.
Main hubs include Nyabugogo, Downtown and Remera.

Best if: you're travelling light along a main road and have a little time.

Moto-taxi

The quickest way across town

Moto-taxis are everywhere, and every rider carries a helmet for the passenger. Fares are metered under RURA's tariff, so ask the rider to switch the meter on as you set off.

Wear the helmet; it's the law.
Riders can't carry a suitcase. Keep it to a backpack.

Best if: you're on your own and want to get somewhere fast.

Ride apps

Yego, Move and GreenRide

Three apps run in Kigali. Yego and Move charge RWF 1,800 for the first kilometre and RWF 180 after that; Move uses only Volkswagen cars. GreenRide starts at RWF 1,500 but charges RWF 1,000 per kilometre, so it costs more on longer trips.

Typical waits are about five to seven minutes, longer at peak times and in heavy rain.
Drivers often call to confirm your pickup point, so keep your phone on.

Best if: you want a fixed, comfortable ride, especially at night.

Street taxi

Taxis from the rank

Taxis wait at hotels, malls and the airport. RURA's tariff is RWF 1,500 for the first kilometre, then RWF 700 a kilometre, and the first 15 minutes of waiting are free.

Agree the price before you get in.
Ride apps usually work out cheaper for the same trip.

Best if: you're at a taxi rank and no app car is close.

Good to know

Walk the car-free zone

Downtown's car-free zone is a pleasant, pedestrian-only stretch in the city centre.

Carry francs or mobile money

Motos and street taxis want cash or mobile money; apps show the price before you ride.

Mind Umuganda

On the last Saturday morning of each month, community work pauses traffic until around midday.

Stay connected

Ride apps and maps need data from the moment you land.

eSIM options

Sources: RURA tariffs (taxi cabs, June 2019; motorcycles, August 2022; City of Kigali public transport, April 2026, reported by Rwanda Dispatch); AllAfrica on ride-app fares (October 2026); KT Press on bus lanes; Living in Kigali on Tap&Go. Checked 31 October 2026. Confirm fares before you pay.

Leaving Kigali

Arriving

Getting around Kigali