Rwanda National Police

Last week, Police in Ngororero District arrested one Venuste Bambuzurwaho; a commercial motorcyclist was arrested after he was found holding a forged driver’s licence.

Preliminary investigations indicate Bambuzurwaho had bought the forged permit at Rwf300, 000, apparently from someone, who convinced him enough to believe that he was a ‘Police broker.’

According to Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Emmanuel Kabanda, the spokesperson for traffic and road safety department, the arrest of Bambuzurwaho falls under the ongoing crackdown to “arrest and prosecute anyone using any traffic-related document.”

“Operations have been going on for more than a year now. These operations are also part of the day-to-day duties of traffic officers on roads across the country to verify the authenticity of permits,” CIP Kabanda said.

“Since last year, we have arrested about 140 people majority motorcyclists, who were found holding forged driver’s licence, and these operations will continue concurrently on daily basis across the country.” he warned.

“Currently, we have a list with names of some people holding fake permits. The list is compiled based on information we get from people, who are arrested forging and issuing them. We welcome those who are willing to voluntarily surrender them, but there will be no mercy for anyone who will be caught.”

The penal code provides a sentence of between five years to seven years and a fine of up to Rwf3 million to any person who forges or alters documents.

The spokesperson observed that anyone holding a driver’s license, well knowing that he or she didn’t sit for the tests, should know that it’s not real and should voluntarily surrender it to the nearest police station.

He emphasized that “Police has no brokers” and that “registering and doing driver’s license tests are done individually.”

“There is no third partly; whoever approaches you telling you that they can help you, just know that you are being defrauded and immediately inform the nearest police or call 0788311502, 0788311215, 0788311110, 0788311114.”