Rusumo Border is a rural ward in Ngara District, Tanzania, approximately 20 kilometers northwest of Nyakasanza and 30 kilometers by road northeast of Ngara, where the district headquarters are located.
Rusumo Border stands at 2°23’05.0” S, 30°47’01.0” E. The locality is surrounded by the Akagera River, which fueled the construction of the Rusumo Hydroelectric Power Station, powered by Rusumo Falls. The falls lie across the Akagera River, partly in the neighboring Rusumo Border.
At Rusumo Ward, the population is reasonable. According to the national census of 2012, the population was recorded at 12,925 people, with 6,497 females, making up 50.3 percent, while 6,428 were males, accounting for 49.7 percent.
The town is a one-stop border post, housing both customs and immigration services of both countries in one location.
Arriving vehicles, along with passengers and their goods, including luggage, are processed at once in one office by officers from both countries.
The means of transport are steadily improving. By road, the main highway B3 from Isaka passes through Rusumo, Tanzania, and enters Rusumo, Rwanda, continuing up to Kigali, the capital city, as highway RN3.
In addition to road transport, a new Rusumo Bridge was completed in 2014 by Japanese and indigenous engineers, along with technicians, which eased the movement of goods and people via this border.
The bridge was funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, which donated a grant of US$30 million aimed at building the new bridge, access roads, truck parks, and the one-stop border post.
Today, you can reach Kigali from Mwanza with a departure time of 5:30 AM, while from Arusha, you leave as early as 4:00 AM with transfers in Singida or Dar es Salaam, also departing at 4:00 AM.
The most interesting thing is that even though you are heading to Kigali, the bus ticket is actually to a Tanzanian border town called Benaco, where you are transferred to Rusumo Border. The ticket costs only 20,000 Tsh.
It is advisable to purchase the bus ticket before your day of departure to get a better, more comfortable seat.
The ticket office is located near Buzuruga Bus Station, or you can use Nyegezi in the morning on the very day of departure.
If you are caught up by time and couldn’t purchase a ticket, you can do it very early in the morning.
The calm Rusumo Border is always open for you.
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