In October 2019, the Government of Rwanda and Russian Federation have signed an intergovernmental agreement for the establishment of a Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology (CNST) in Rwanda.

The CNST is expected to focus on peaceful applications of nuclear technology including:

Medical Applications: Production of radioisotopes for use in cancer diagnosis and treatment

Agricultural Research: Utilizing radiation for crop improvement

Industrial Applications: Material testing and non-destructive evaluation.

The center is a first profound step for the newcomer country like Rwanda, which would like to prepare itself for more complex nuclear projects. It builds the practical foundation for development of the national nuclear program, provides a broad number of applications that directly influence the quality of life of each citizen and gain their trust by removing fears associated with country's “nuclearization” as well as assures constant capacity building and establishment of strong safety culture.