Meet Agabe Joshua, the brilliant young Rwandan innovator who has just built something that could transform car-wash businesses across East Africa: a fully automatic, water-saving, solar-compatible Automatic Car Wash Machine that cleans a vehicle in under 6 minutes, uses less than 100 litres of water, and costs just RWF 8.5 million (~$6,500) to build.
From a small workshop in Kigali, Joshua’s final-year mechanical engineering project has already turned heads:
- Cuts water usage by 65% compared to traditional hand washing
- Reduces labour from 3–5 workers to just 1–2
- Recycles up to 60% of water
- Powered by solar panels (optional) – perfect for Rwanda’s sunny climate
- Delivers a perfect wash in 4–6 minutes vs. 20–30 minutes by hand
During its first real-world test in Remera, the machine washed 45 cars in one morning, a full day’s work for a normal car wash, and the owner immediately offered to buy the prototype.
Joshua’s system works like this:
- Ultrasonic sensors detect the car’s size and position
- High-pressure nozzles apply pre-wash, soap, and rinse automatically
- Soft rotating brushes clean every corner without scratching
- A built-in filtration system recycles water
- Everything runs on a simple touchscreen interface
“This isn’t just about cleaning cars,” Joshua told me with that quiet confidence he always has. “It’s about giving small business owners in Rwanda a tool to compete, save water, cut costs, and create better jobs. I want every town in East Africa to have one of these.”
Already shortlisted for the 2025 Rwanda Innovation Prize and invited to showcase at the African Engineering Conference in Nairobi next year, Joshua’s invention is proof that world-class innovation is happening right here in Kigali, built by young Rwandans with big dreams and serious skill.
Proud doesn’t even begin to cover it. Agabe Joshua – remember the name. Rwanda’s next generation of innovators is here, and they’re just getting started.