American philanthropist and technology entrepreneur Bill Gates is visiting Rwanda to examine the country’s progress in healthcare, artificial intelligence, and digital public infrastructure.
Gates, who chairs the Gates Foundation, confirmed the visit in a LinkedIn post on Monday, July 20, praising Rwanda’s long-term investment in public health and technology-driven service delivery.
He said Rwanda’s experience demonstrates how strong government commitment, combined with effective implementation, can expand access to life-saving health technologies for ordinary citizens.
The visit follows a major partnership announced earlier this year between the Gates Foundation and OpenAI to expand AI-powered healthcare solutions across Africa. Rwanda was selected as the first country to pilot the initiative under the Horizon 1000 program.
Launched in January, the $50 million initiative seeks to introduce artificial intelligence tools in 1,000 primary healthcare clinics and surrounding communities by 2028. The technology is intended to support healthcare workers by improving diagnosis, resource planning, and clinical decision-making rather than replacing medical professionals.
Gates highlighted Rwanda’s emphasis on monitoring health outcomes and using data to identify areas that need improvement. He noted that the country has achieved substantial progress in child health over the past two decades.
According to Gates, deaths among children under five have fallen from 59,000 in 2000 to 16,000, representing a 73 percent reduction. He attributed much of this progress to strong vaccination coverage and the overall performance of the national health system.
Rwanda has also expanded its digital health infrastructure in recent years.
In April 2025, the government launched the National Health Intelligence Center (NHIC) AI Lab, which uses data from community health workers, health centers, and hospitals to improve patient outcomes, strengthen health financing, and support evidence-based decision-making.
In addition, the country has digitized community healthcare through the Community Electronic Medical Record (cEMR) system. At the same time, platforms such as E-Ubuzima and E-Fiche enable health providers to follow a patient’s medical journey from the first consultation through treatment and discharge.
Gates’ visit is expected to include engagements with government officials, health institutions, and technology stakeholders as Rwanda positions itself as a regional hub for digital health and AI-enabled public services.
