Rwanda National Police

The Rwanda National Police (RNP) Traffic and Road Safety Department has disqualified 19 candidates who were caught in various malpractices in the ongoing driving licence tests.

Sixteen of the suspects were caught on Monday in Musanze District while two others were caught in Kigali last week while doing driving licence tests in other candidates’ names.

One other person was also arrested in Musanze after he was found with a counterfeit Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) receipt.

Normally, driving licence seekers are required to first pay registration fee in RRA before doing either theory or practical tests.

“Fourteen candidates, eight of them holding driving licences, were caught doing theory tests for others while six others were caught cheating,” Supt. Jean Marie Ndushabandi, the traffic spokesperson, said.

“They (suspects) had photos, pay-slips and registration numbers belonging to other candidates. Not one, whatsoever, is allowed to seat driving tests on behalf of others. It is illegal and against the law,” Supt. Ndushabandi said.

He explained that the suspects will be charged with forgery or alteration of documents under article 609 of the penal code.

It states that “any person who forges or alters documents by forged signature or fingerprint, falsifying documents or signatures or impersonation, forging agreements, its provisions, obligations, discharged obligations shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of more than five years to seven years and a fine of Rwf300, 000 to Rwf3 million.”

“We have eased the process of acquiring a driving licence; there are books containing all traffic rules. Candidates should utilize these tools to be good drivers instead of resorting to such illegal but dangerous acts,” he noted.

He urged those seeking driving license to prepare for the tests rather than relying on cheating “which is almost impossible because there are measures in place to get such people who try it.”