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Rwanda National Police FAQ's

Q: Where is Rwanda National Police located? 

A: Rwanda National Police General Headquarter is located in Kigali, Rwanda. You can also contact Rwanda National Police General Headquarters with the details below;

Telephone: 112

Email: info@police.gov.rw

Postal address: P.O Box 6304

Q; What is the Rwanda National Police Force structure?

A; Rwanda National Police is organised into five (5) Regional Police Units, thirty (30) District Police Units and sixty-nine (69) police stations

Traffic related questions

 Q; How do I register for Provisional driving License exam?

 A; Use your cell phone and type: ID number (leave a space), identify your district (leave a Space) type the letter P (leave a space) type figure 0 and send to 3126.

Ex: 1198080043026249   Gatsibo   P   0

Q; How do I register for a final driving license exam?

A; Indicate your ID Number (leave a space), identify your district (leave a space), provisional driving license number (leave a space), specify your category (A, B, C, D, E, F) and send to 3126,

ex. 1199081111111111 Gatsibo G619016/2012 B send to 3126

Q; Can I register for a provisional Driving license exam, if I’m under 18?

A; No, if you are under 18 you are not eligible to sit for provisional driving license exam.

Q; Cain I obtain a driving license if I’m under 18

A; No, the law stipulates that one has to be 18 years for drivers of cars in categories A and B and 20 years for drivers of cars in categories C, D, E, and F

Q; what written languages is the exam available in?

A; The exam is in 3 languages; Kinyarwanda, English and French

Q; How long is the Provisional driving license valid?

A; The provisional driving license is valid for 2 years, you can acquire/ obtain another by sitting for another provisional driving license exam.

Q; Is an international driving permit allowed in Rwanda?

 A; Foreigners driving permit/international driver’s licenses is accepted in Rwanda and can be used for one year before acquiring Rwandan driver’s license.

Q; How can I change a foreign permit to obtain a Rwandan Permit?

 A; Applications are to be made at Rwanda National Police, Traffic unit. The processes to apply for the driving license are:

·         A letter addressed to the commissioner general of police with other available supporting documents i.e Visa

·         Provide a photocopy of your license

·          Receipt of 50,000 Rfw

Q; what are the grounds of confiscating a driving permit?

A; They are;

·         Multiple grave violations of traffic rules

·         Driving under the influence; drunken driving one year after being penalized for the same offence

·         Total Incapacity

Traffic police forwards the case files to the Rwandan Public Prosecution Authority, once they are produced in court it’s up to the judge to decide how long an individual  will be banned from driving

Q; What are the documents required to be carried by a person driving a vehicle?

A; The following are documents a driver is required to have

·         Drivers license

·         Vehicle registration certificate

·         Up to date car insurance certificates

·          Logbook

Q; Under what conditions is the towing of a vehicle allowed

A; Below are the conditions;

·         Vehicle abandoned or left unattended

·         Parked in a parking restricted area/zone

·         Parked in a way causing inconvenience to other road users

·         driving under the influence

·         In case of an accident

Q; Why does Police make “Helmet" use compulsory?

A; Police advises to always wear helmets, as a precautionary/safety protection measure.

Q; If I received a traffic ticket, where do I pay?

A; Payments are made at Bank of Kigali (BK), Account Number 0369752-21

Q; I received a traffic ticket and I don't think it is fair. What can I do?

A; You write a letter to the Traffic police directorate informing them of the incident which will be looked into/ investigated

Q; How do I obtain a copy of an accident report?

A; You can acquire a copy of the accident report from the Judicial Police Officer who was present at the scene of accident

Q; How can I report traffic accidents?

A; Call 113

Q; What I  the speed limit in Rwanda?

 A; The speed limit in towns is 40 km/h and the speed limit going in provinces is 60 km/h.

Q; What is the rule for use of mobile phone?
A; Using a mobile phone while driving is prohibited unless you do so using a hands free kit. No driver while driving or riding a motor vehicle shall use a mobile phone.

Police Entry Q’s

Q; About RNP entry Requirements?

A; You have to be a national

Q; What are the age requirements to be recruited as a Police Officer

A; It is from age 18 to 25 to enroll in the basic training/basic recruitment and ages 20 to 35 for Cadet Course

Q: What are the education requirements to be recruited as a RNP Police Officer?

A; For the Cadet Course, one has to have acquired a Bachelors Degree and Senior 6 Level certificate (A2) for the Basic training

Q; I have been arrested/convicted - can I still apply to become a member of the force?

A; Yes, If you have been arrested for not more than six months.

Other questions
Q; What is human trafficking?

A; Human Trafficking is defined in the Trafficking Protocol as "the recruitment, transport, transfer, harboring or receipt of a person by such means as threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud or deception for the purpose of exploitation."

Q; What is the difference between human trafficking and human smuggling/internal human trafficking?

A;  a) Human Trafficking involves the recruitment, transportation or harboring of persons for the purpose of exploitation (typically in the sex industry or for forced labour). Traffickers use various methods to maintain control over their victims, including force, sexual assault, threats of violence and physical or emotional abuse. Human trafficking may occur across or within borders, may involve extensive organized crime networks and is clearly a violation of the basic human rights of its victims. Victims may be forced into labour, prostitution or some other form of servitude. Victims may suffer abuse before, during and after transportation and may face fatal consequences if they attempt to escape.

      b) Human smuggling is a form of illegal migration involving the organized transport of a person across an international border usually in exchange for a sum of money and sometimes in dangerous conditions.  In some cases, a person who has agreed to be smuggled into a country becomes a trafficking victim at the hands of the smuggler

Q; How can I help a victim of human trafficking?

A; If you or someone you know is being exploited contact the nearest police station. 

Q; What is money laundering?

A; Money laundering involves disguising financial assets so that they can be used without detection of the illegal activity that produced them.

Through money laundering, the launderer transforms the monetary proceeds derived from criminal activity into funds with an apparently legal source

Q; Why is fighting money laundering important?

A; Money Laundering is principally about the concealment of the origins of revenue generated by acquisitive crime. That means that money laundering is a vital part of the operations of many of society's most anti-social and harmful individuals and organizations. Drug dealers, people traffickers, burglars, fraudsters, robbers, illegal arms dealers and smugglers are among those who use the financial system to launder money.

Q; How can I report a domestic violence case in my neighborhood?

A; Call 3512

Q; where can I report abuse by a police officer? 

A; Call 3511

Q; Do I need permission for using loud speakers in my neighborhood/organizing a public meeting?

A; Yes, You acquire permission from the nearest police post/station or from the authorities in your neighborhood i.e. Umudugudu

Q; what can I do about my noisy neighbors? 

A; Call 112

Q; Can I own a gun legally in Rwanda?

A; The law stipulates that a person living in Rwanda may request possession of weapon if he can convince beyond reasonable doubt why he or she needs it. They also have to pay up to Frw 500,000 annually for the service. 

Security companies are liable to pay Frw 100,000 every year. Police has also put in place toll free line 112 where they can report the whereabouts of the illegal arms.

Q; what are the services offered by the Motor Vehicle Inspection Center (MIC)?

A; The Motor Vehicle Inspection Center provides professional police safety and emission inspections and they also issue certificates allowing cars to circulate on the public highway.

 Q; why would I use the MIC if my car is regularly inspected in other garages?

 A; These Inspections are done to uncover potential repairs and hidden problems to promote safety on highways.

 MIC is different from a garage because their goal is to reduce the number of vehicle equipment related crashes by taking measures to ensure that motor vehicles in safe operating condition.

Q; is the charge the same for all cars inspected at MIC?

A; The charges depend on cars;

·         3,000 RWFs for motorbikes,

·         10,000RWFs for passenger cars,

·         15,000 RWFs for Buses/minibuses ,

·         20,000-25,000 RWFs for trucks and trailers

 The payments are made to Banque Commercial du Rwanda (BCR) Account Number: 5036679-01-50