Rwanda National Police has clarified that motorcycle taxi operators working outside Kigali are allowed to bring passengers into the capital, whether they use petrol-powered or electric motorcycles. However, they cannot operate regularly in Kigali without a licence authorising them to do so.
The clarification from the Traffic Police comes after some motorcycle taxi operators, particularly those working in areas surrounding Kigali, complained that their motorcycles were being impounded when they brought passengers into the city.
The operators say some of their colleagues have had their motorcycles confiscated for extended periods simply for transporting passengers from their usual operating areas to Kigali, despite being unaware of any law prohibiting the practice.
One operator working in Kamonyi District, on the outskirts of Kigali, told TV1 that his motorcycle had been impounded for nearly a month after he transported a passenger to the capital, even though his licence authorised him to operate in Ruyenzi.
“My new motorcycle has been impounded for three weeks. It is not because it lacked the required documents, but because I brought a passenger to Kigali while holding a licence for Ruyenzi. There are many motorcycles in Gatsata facing the same problem. Instead of being fined Rwf10,000 and allowed to continue working, their motorcycles are held for 30 days,” he said.
Some operators claim that petrol-powered motorcycles are more frequently targeted because obtaining authorisation to use them for passenger transport has become difficult.
They also say much of the information they receive about where they can and cannot operate comes from local motorcycle taxi security personnel, commonly known as abasekirite.
The operators say they are confused by restrictions on where they can work, particularly because their colleagues based in Kigali are able to transport passengers to other parts of the country.
“There is no sign at Nyabarongo that clearly tells us we are not allowed to enter Kigali. If they put one up, we will know and stop breaking the rules,” one operator said.
They argue that restricting them to specific operating areas interferes with their livelihoods, since their work involves transporting passengers to different destinations according to their needs.
SSP Kayigi Emmanuel, spokesperson for the Rwanda National Police Traffic Department, said any motorcycle taxi operator with the required documents may enter Kigali, regardless of whether the motorcycle is petrol-powered or electric.
However, he stressed that operators must work within the geographical area specified on the operating licence issued by the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA).
“Every motorcycle taxi operator must have a licence issued by RURA specifying where they are authorised to operate. If you applied to work in a particular district, that is where you should operate. Otherwise, it creates disorder and can lead to other violations within the profession,” he said.
Kayigi reiterated that there is no offence in bringing a passenger to Kigali from another district. The problem arises when an operator stays in the city to look for additional passengers despite being licensed to work elsewhere.
“Claims that operators using non-electric motorcycles are prohibited from entering Kigali are not true. Bringing a passenger into the city is completely allowed. The problem is when someone wakes up one day and decides to go and look for passengers in Remera because there are many people there,” he said.
He explained that, for example, a motorcycle taxi operator licensed to work in Kamonyi District may transport a passenger to Kigali but should not remain there to solicit other passengers as though authorised to operate in the capital.
Kayigi also noted that impounding a motorcycle is not the only penalty available for operators who violate the rules governing their profession.
Depending on the nature of the offence, police may counsel an operator, issue a warning or impose a fine, with the aim of correcting misconduct and improving standards within the motorcycle taxi industry.
