Rwanda Transport Development Agency (RTDA) has issued a tender inviting firms to operate and maintain the ports of Rubavu, Rusizi, Nkora and Karongi on Lake Kivu under a public-private partnership (PPP).

The Rwandan government, in collaboration with TradeMark Africa (TMA), is executing the Lake Kivu Harbour Transport Project, which carries a budget of RWF22 billion (US$18.3 million). This initiative involves the establishment of four harbor facilities on Lake Kivu, with private sector investors entrusted with the operation of these ports and ferry services. In November 2019, the government entered into a grant agreement with the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), which will co-finance 45% of the construction expenses for the ports. TMA is contributing 50% of the financing, while the Rwandan government will fund the remaining 5%.

Presently, construction is underway for the Rubavu and Rusizi ports. These two ports are designed with an initial capacity to accommodate around 1.5 million passengers annually, along with a maximum cargo-handling capacity of 580,000 tonnes. Similarly, Nkora port, like Rubavu and Rusizi, will hold a prominent status and adhere to the same specifications.