Northern Corridor

Mombasa to Kigali Road Freight

Mombasa to Kigali by road is roughly 1,700 km on the Northern Corridor through Kenya and Uganda, entering Rwanda at Gatuna or Kagitumba. Typical transit is seven to nine days.

Road distance
~1,700 km
Typical transit
7–9 days
Corridor
Northern Corridor
Border crossings
Malaba, Gatuna (Katuna), Kagitumba (Mirama Hills)

Route and border crossings

Rwanda is a member of the Single Customs Territory, so Rwanda Revenue Authority clearance is initiated at Mombasa and the truck travels under electronic seals the whole way. After Kampala the route runs south-west through Masaka and Mbarara to the Gatuna One Stop Border Post, or to Kagitumba via Mirama Hills when traffic favours it. The final approach to Kigali is about 80 km of hilly road, which is why 30-tonne trailers are the standard unit on this lane.

  1. Mombasa
  2. Nairobi
  3. Malaba
  4. Kampala
  5. Mbarara
  6. Gatuna
  7. Kigali

Transit time and what affects it

Typical transit from Mombasa to Kigali is 7–9 days from port release to delivery. The main variables are the time of customs release in Mombasa, weighbridge queues on the Kenyan leg, processing at Malaba and the delivery window at the consignee. Tarazad tracks every truck by GPS and shares status updates at each milestone, so you know where the cargo is at all times.

Cargo and truck options

Cargo is mostly containerised imports, machinery, pharmaceuticals and construction materials for Kigali and the Kigali Special Economic Zone. Rwanda's landlocked position makes consolidated loads attractive for smaller importers.

Full truckload is available in 10-tonne, 20-tonne and 30-tonne units plus skeletal trailers for 20-foot and 40-foot containers. Smaller consignments can move as less-than-truckload on scheduled departures. See full truckload, less-than-truckload and customs clearance.

Distances and transit times are indicative and confirmed per shipment. Last updated October 2026.

Mombasa to Kigali: common questions

How many days does a truck take from Mombasa to Kigali?

Typically seven to nine days including two border crossings. The Northern Corridor via Uganda is the standard routing from Mombasa.

Can I ship a less-than-truckload consignment to Kigali?

Yes. Tarazad consolidates smaller Kigali-bound shipments on scheduled departures, so you pay for the space you use rather than a full truck.

Is Rwanda-bound cargo cleared in Mombasa or Kigali?

Under the Single Customs Territory the Rwanda customs declaration is lodged and duties assessed while the cargo is in Mombasa. The truck then moves under electronic cargo tracking to the consignee.