The website, officially unveiled on January 1, 2025, allows car owners to register their vehicles by providing details such as pricing and basic information. Renters can log in, input necessary details, and select the car they need. All transactions require users to create an account first.
The platform is free to use, and cars can be rented from anywhere in the country. It features vehicles from 12 leading car rental companies in Rwanda.
As of January 22â€"just three weeks after its launchâ€"over 60 vehicles of various types had been listed on the platform. Additionally, the site had received 21,000 visitors, with hundreds of users already registered.
Mbabazi Jean Paul, the founder of Umunota Plus, the company behind Umunota.rw, explained that the platform was designed to provide solutions such as quick and easy access to cars, flexible rental durations, and a seamless process.
He stated: "Currently, finding a car to rent is difficult. It's even harder to get one for short periods, like five hours, because most rentals are structured around daily bookings.
"We also aimed to tackle unemployment. For instance, we currently have 40 agents across the country. This platform has the potential to create over 100 jobs across various roles."
The platform offers car rentals starting from as little as one hour. Renters can choose to have the car delivered to their location or pick it up themselves.
Additionally, renters can opt for cars with fuel included or arrange to pay for their own fuel. Pricing is transparent and displayed on the platform, with payment options available through the website's integrated system or traditional methods.
Currently, services are accessible via the website, but mobile applications for both iOS and Android are set to launch in February 2025.
The platform is available in English, with plans to introduce Kinyarwanda and French versions in the future.
For those looking to rent a car, users need to log in to the website, specify their location (to find nearby cars), and provide the dates for when they need the vehicle and when they'll return it. Once confirmed, the system provides car options based on the user's input. The platform utilizes machine learning to enhance its functionality.
Car owners, on the other hand, can list their vehicles by clicking the "List Your Car" option, entering details about the car, and setting their prices.
Mbabazi reassured users about the platform's security: "While the digital world faces privacy risks, our platform is secure, ensuring that unauthorized access to user data is not possible."
In the future, the platform plans to introduce a system where drivers without cars, particularly young people, can offer their services. This feature will allow users to rent both cars and drivers if needed.
IGIHE
