English
Kinyarwanda
In a bid to ensure public safety, Rwanda National Police, on August 15 conducted a countrywide awareness campaign among commercial motorcyclists to further bring them on board in community policing activities.
The exercise conducted co concurrently in all regions of the country also focused on sensitizing them on road traffic rules in an effort to improve road safety.
In the Southern Province, close to 2000 commercial motorcyclists attended townhall meetings held separately in the districts in the region.
While speaking to over 600 motorcycle taxi operators operating in Huye District, the DPC Superintendent Jules Rutayisire urged them to always be vigilant not to facilitate criminality by transporting wrongdoers or illegal goods like illicit drugs.
“One way to abide by traffic rules is to ensure that you carry one passenger at a time, own a driver's licence, insurance, wear a helmet and a reflector jacket," Supt. Rutayisire told the motorcyclists
"In case you suspect either you colleague or a passenger of being involved in a crime, report to the police immediately because ensuring safety and security should also be your concern like any patriotic Rwandan," he added.
In Muhanga District, Police reached out to the disadvantaged aspiring commercial motorcyclist, Abdullah Nshimiyimana and pledged to meet his costs to acquire a driver's licence.
Nshimiyimana had passed all the theory and practical driving tests but failed to get money to register and process his licence.
Elsewhere, similar meetings were held in all districts of the Western Province and drew close to 1000 commercial motorcyclists.
The Western region police spokesperson Theobald Kanamugire, said that police focused its sensitization campaign on road safety and crime prevention.
While In the Eastern Province meetings that were held in all districts also included sanitation and and hygiene.
Inspector of Police, Emmanuel Kayigi, Police Spokesperson for the Eastern region told attendants to; “always refrain from over speeding since it is one of the major causes of road accidents and ride baring in mind that that are other people using the road who still value their lives and have dependants that look up to them for survival."
Similar messages were also delivered to motorcyclists in all the 30 districts of the country.
With recklessness and bad maneuvers of commercial motorcyclists being among the major causes of road accidents and a number of motorcycle taxi operators arrested for either aiding or conducting a criminal and illegal activities, such awareness' are valued to engage this group of transport business to be an eye for their colleagues and be active in community policing activities.
