The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Rwanda has been launched with a commitment to contribute to efficient logistics and transport services and economic growth.

CILT Rwanda is a local subsidiary of CILT International

The launch took place on October 30, 2021 in Kigali, and coincided with the first official graduation of its certified members in the country.

Overall, CILT Rwanda graduated 67 members, of whom 14 are women, said Patrick Mugabo, President of CILT Rwanda.

Two of the graduates are charted fellows – while 25 are chartered members and the rest,35 are MILT members and 5 are affiliate members.

Mugabo said the logistics sector was working but lacked an institution to build their capacity in terms of skills or provide them with internationally recognised certification.

He said that CILT has been in Rwanda for two years, but it was registered in the country about a year ago, adding that its activities were somehow slowed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

"What CILT is coming to help the logistics sector in Rwanda is to work professionally. So, our work will be to provide the right skills to professionals in this industry through different specialised trainings and then certifications to companies who employ them,” he said.

Prior to granting certification to companies, the institute makes sure that they have the right tools to use to achieve good service delivery, Mugabo explained.

"We also make sure that their staff are well-trained, and have the required skills to provide quality service in all corners of the logistics in general,” he said.

He said that certification gives credibility that an entity has gotten adequate skills and capability to perform well at a given level, adding that they have different levels – ranging, in ascending order, from affiliate to member, to chartered member, and to charted fellow.

So far, two logistics companies – Gorilla Logistics and Bolloré Logistics (Rwanda) – are the only certified corporate members by CILT Rwanda.

Mugabo said that these two companies met the requirements to be professional logistics companies, out of 20 companies that they had assessed in the country.

Ensuring efficiency and saving transport cost

Mugabo said that logistics studies are still new in the country.

In Rwanda, even the universities did not have degree courses related to logistics or supply chain. It is recently that some universities introduced such courses.

"For instance, the UR (University of Rwanda) which we are in the process to give accreditation, the first students in logistics are in year one,” he pointed out.

Indeed, he said, logistics is the backbone of every company, indicating that it is the enabler of the transport of goods along the entire supply chain in different areas including the military, health, education sector, among others.

 "What we want is to contribute to the enhancement of quality of our [logistics and transport] services. Rwanda is already positioning itself as a service hub. No quality service delivery can be achieved if it has not right logistics sector behind it,” he said.

The improved services, he said, will be achieved through approaches such as embracing digitalization and working in a professional manner, which help to save the cost – on fuel, maintenance, staff, and time.

"Time is an important factor in logistics. You can save not less than [Rwf]5 million by saving 20 or 12 hours in logistics,” he said, pointing out that digitisation coupled with professionalism helps reduce the costs on the side of the company, but also helps provide low-cost services to customers.

Fred Seka, Managing Director of Gorilla Logistics said that they need facilitate transport and trade through a logistic system that is cheaper, which can be achieved through ways including adopting technology along the entire process, compliance, and effective cooperation.

Seka, who is also the President of the Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Associations, said that CILT will support the logistics and transport sector development through capacity building, especially as it comes "when we are entering the African Continental Free Trade Area.”

"It (CILT) comes on time. We could not enter the regional market without having one of the best institutes which can help Rwandans and other people who are in Rwanda to be trained to the level of competing with others.

It is to note that CILT Rwanda also launched the Women in Logistics and Transport (WiLAT) Rwanda.

Josephine Nyebaza, Chairperson of Women in Logistic Rwanda encouraged women in the industry to join the WiLAT and CILT family for a chance to share knowledge, experiences and expand their networks both locally and globally.

Chief Teete Owusu-Nortey the Special Advisor to Council of trustees during the launch.

CILT Rwanda as a local subsidiary of CILT International, the event also attended by some participants abroad.

CILT Rwanda officials pose for a group photo with the  67 graduated members, of whom 14 are women.

Delegates follow a presentation during the launch that took place on October 30, 2021 in Kigali.

Panelists during a discussion.

Patrick Mugabo President of CILT Rwanda delivers remarks during the launch on October 30.

Two of the graduates are charted fellows – while 25 are chartered members and the rest,35 are MILT members and 5 are affiliate members.