The Ministry of ICT and Innovation (MINICT), held a meeting with stakeholders on Drone Operations Centre (DOC). This took place on Thursday 31 January 2019, at Kigali.   

The Ministry with stakeholders is working to set up and launch a Drone Operations Centre, to promote educational, research, recreational and commercial opportunities using drones.

“Basically, we want to establish and grow this drone industry; it is new, and transformative and it has to be grown. If we want to put this industry to an upper level, we need to have structures, we need to have clear policies, and we need to have strategies and regulations with one objective: to induce the industry and to enable the operators solve their challenges.” Mr. Gordon Kalema; Director General in charge Digital Transformation at the Ministry, telling the participants.

“The concept of the drone operations centre is being designed to support operators and the industry. We really need open conversations to get inputs for the strategy and make sure your industry suits to your business. The Government is working so hard to make sure this industry thrive.” Added Mr. Gordon Kalema.

Three important activities documents: Drone Operations Centre feasibility study, Strategy and Policy and Pilot project (Wildlife Monitoring Project) were presented to the stakeholders who talked over them so that their feedbacks are considered.

In 2016, Zipline; a US-based company that operates the world’s only drone delivery system for urgent medicines such as blood and vaccine launched operations in Muhanga District, Southern Rwanda and so far over 9,500 blood units have been delivered to different hospitals. Apart from Zipline, CHARISUAS is another unmanned Aerial vehicles company in Rwanda that involves in construction, agriculture, aerial photography and inspection.