Following the success of the two ICT buses imported into the country by Rwanda Development Board (RDB) through its eRwanda Project, the institution has announced plans to acquire two similar buses by September this year.

This was announced by eRwanda Project coordinator, Wilson Muyenzi, while assessing the impact of the ICT buses in Kamonyi district where 20 women representing each sector are currently undergoing a one-month training programme in ICT essentials using these buses.

"We are giving basic computer skills to one member of a women’s council from each sector of the district and we expect them to go back and pass on the knowledge to their fellow members,” Muyenzi said.

The two new buses are set to arrive in September and they come in as a supplement to the other buses that were imported in August last year.

Muyenzi added said that the training has changed the lives of many people , among them the  police, who used to compile and send their reports manually but now they send them by emails using these facilities.

He however said that the project faces challenges, where some places don’t have access to electricity which makes the building of Telecenters difficult and useless yet they only have two buses.

"We are opening 18 more telecenters in June which will enable us have at least one in each district. With the other two more ICT buses, we are optimistic that this will fill the void,” he added.

The ICT buses are described as mobile Telecentres, and are meant to provide additional ICT services ranging from printing, scanning and photocopying documents to offering basic ICT training.

The project is funded by the World Bank to take information technology to ordinary citizens as the country strives to become a regional ICT hub.

The buses were assembled in Nairobi and are valued at around Rwf154 million each at the time of delivery. The price includes the two generators to power them while serving in remote areas.

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