If you go back to around 2012, it was a completely different story, seeing someone with a smartphone in Rwanda was a surprise. It was so rare that people would gather just to see that person using it. In many villages, only one house would have a television, and everyone from the neighborhood would come there to watch football matches or movies. I remember in 2012, my family and I gathered at my uncle’s house to watch football, and the whole neighborhood was there. Oh, it was a great night for Chelsea fans.
But now, things have completely changed in Rwanda. Today, at least 99.99% of people use technology in one way or another. If someone doesn’t have a smartphone, they most likely have a television. If they don’t have a TV, they still use some kind of technology in their daily life — in farming, in animal keeping, or even just when getting government services or going to the hospital. That means technology is everywhere in Rwanda, and there is no place to run away from it.
This shows how important technology has become in the country. If every area you go to is using technology in some way, that means around 70% of Rwanda’s development is supported by technology.
Some of the areas where technology is being used include the following:
In factories, most of the work is now done using machines and digital tools. For example, waste materials are turned into new products, plastic is used to make tiles, and much more. Technology has helped the industry sector to grow quickly, with production increasing every month. The government recently announced that by June 2025, the industrial production had grown by 8.5% compared to previous months.
In agriculture, before 2012, people didn’t believe that farming could be done using technology or that it could help improve production. But as the country continued to develop, people discovered new technologies in agriculture. Today, large machines are used to plow big fields in a short time. The government has built irrigation systems that bring water to farms, and in some areas, these systems spray water from above the crops, making it look like rain.
Another new development in agriculture is the use of a fertilizer program called Tubura (we keep this word in Kinyarwanda). Tubura is a government-supported method where farmers use factory-made fertilizer that increases crop production, especially in areas with poor soil. It also helps farmers get improved maize seeds called Ebride, which grow well and produce a lot even in different types of soil.
In animal farming, technology is also helping. Today, many animals are raised using modern methods. For example, chickens can be hatched using machines that warm the eggs until they become chicks. There are special chickens called koroyiro and saso that are raised for eggs and meat. Also, cows, pigs, and goats are now bred using artificial insemination, a method that uses technology to improve reproduction.
In education, schools across the country now use technology much more than before. In the past, schools only used chalkboards, but now students use computers, projectors, and modern laboratories to learn better and faster.
In the health sector, Rwanda has also seen big improvements thanks to technology. Today, doctors can scan inside a person’s body without surgery. Some operations are done without cutting open the body. People are getting artificial body parts that work well, and diseases like cancer are being treated using advanced machines and tools.
Technology is also helping in government services. A good example is the Irembo system. It allows people to request almost all government services online without needing to visit offices or meet with leaders directly. This has made service delivery much easier and faster.
Another area that has developed quickly because of technology is how people make money. Nowadays, many young people earn income online. This is because the country has invested in training them in digital skills and promoting the use of technology in business and jobs.
Technology in Rwanda continues to grow at a high speed. This growth brings many advantages. It helps improve the quality of services in education, health, and government. It creates new job opportunities for young people and saves time by making services faster and easier to get. It also improves productivity in farming and industry, helping the country grow economically.
But it’s not all smooth sailing. As more people rely on technology, those who don’t have access to it can be left behind. The cost of buying and maintaining technology can also be high, especially for people living in rural areas. Overuse of technology can reduce physical activity and human interaction, which can affect health and relationships. Some people may also face problems like cybercrime or becoming too dependent on the internet.
Even with these challenges, the rise of technology in Rwanda is mostly a good thing, pushing the country forward and helping improve people’s lives in many ways.
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