Rwanda Coding Academy (RCA) to Expand Across the Country to Boost Rwanda’s Tech Ambitions

Rwanda Coding Academy, located in Nyabihu District, has announced plans to open new branches in different parts of the country as part of efforts to support Rwanda’s vision of becoming Africa’s leading hub for technology and innovation.

The announcement was made by RCA’s Director General, Dr. Papias Niyigena, during the RCA Hackathon, a technology competition that brings together students from the academy to present innovative projects addressing community challenges.

Dr. Niyigena highlighted that RCA students consistently develop impactful tech-based solutions capable of addressing both local and global issues. However, he noted that the number of students currently enrolled is still far below what the growing labor market demands.

“In the next intake, we will only admit 80 students, which is not enough. We are therefore planning to open more branches soon to accommodate more learners and elevate our capacity,” he said.

He added that over the five years he has worked with RCA students, he has witnessed exceptional skills and creativity that deserve greater support and exposure.

One of the standout innovations from the recent RCA Hackathon was a project called “Smarten”, developed by a team of students who designed a smart system that helps water companies detect and prevent losses caused by leaking pipes. The system automatically sends alerts to relevant authorities when a pipe bursts, allowing immediate response and repair.

According to Kirenga Kenny, the team leader behind Smarten, the innovation could help companies like WASAC minimize water loss and improve efficiency. It can also be integrated into household water systems, allowing users to monitor and control water flow remotely via their phones.

The Director General of the Rwanda TVET Board, Eng. Paul Umukunzi, urged both public and private institutions to support student-led innovations from RCA and other tech schools, noting that such projects play a vital role in solving national challenges.

Established in 2019 in Nyabihu District, RCA was created to train young Rwandans in advanced computer programming and reduce reliance on foreign expertise. The academy offers a three-year program specializing in software engineering, cybersecurity, and embedded systems.

Since its inception, RCA has graduated 117 students 58 from the first cohort in 2019, 59 from the second in 2020 and expects to graduate over 110 in the 2024/2025 academic year, all with world-class technical skills.