Rwanda National Police

Rwanda Utility Regulatory Authority (RURA) and the City of Kigali today announced companies and a cooperative that have won bids to operate in public transportation in Kigali City.

In a new drive to reform the public transport sector in the capital city, Kigali City was divided into four (4) exclusive public transport zones that were allocated to successful bidders through an open competitive bidding process. Following the bidding process the following companies will be awarded a five year license to operate in their respective zones;

• Kigali Bus Service (KBS) will operate in Zone I and it will cover Remera, Kanombe, Kabeza, Nyarugunga, Rusororo (Kabuga), Masaka, and Ndera Sectors. The trunk routes of this public transport zone shall include the main routes connecting it to the CBD or to Nyabugogo Taxi Park.

• Royal Express Ltd will operate in Zone II and it will cover Niboye, Kicukiro (Sonatubes, Centre), Gahanga, Gatenga, Gikondo and Kigarama. The trunk routes of this public transport zone shall include the main routes connecting it to the CBD and to Nyabugogo Taxi Park.

• Rwanda Federation of Transport Cooperatives (RFTC) will operate in Zone III and it will cover Kimironko, Kinyinya (Kagugu & Dutchwelle), Gisozi, Kacyiru, New Gakinjiro, Batsinda, Kibagabaga, Kimihurura, Nyarutarama and the trunk routes of this public transport zone shall include the main routes connecting it to the CBD and to the Nyabugogo and Kimironko Taxi Parks.

• Rwanda Federation of Transport Cooperatives (RFTC) will operate in Zone IV and it will cover Kimisagara, Nyakabanda, Nyamirambo, Mageragere, Kigali, Gatsata, Karuruma, Jabana, Nyacyonga, and the trunk, inter and intra zone routes connecting it to the CBD and Nyabugogo Taxi Park.
Public transport zones are made up of trunk routes emanating from each zone heading towards the Central Business District (City centre) and Nyabugogo terminal, intra-zone routes within a given public transport zone and inter-zone routes connecting two different public transport zones.

The Director General of RURA Maj. Gatarayiha Regis indicated that, “This new strategy is in line with the new public transport policy approved by cabinet last year and it is aimed at putting in place a clear and favorable regulatory framework that encourages investment in public transport as a lucrative sector in the City of Kigali.”

The Mayor of the City of Kigali Ndayisaba Fidele said that, “The public transport system has come to solve the problem city residents have been facing in accessing public transport and it will ease movement in Kigali.”

Mayor Ndayisaba also pointed out that, “This system will encourage the use of modern, smart and bigger buses appropriate for public transport along congested roads in the City of Kigali”

The new public transport system will require operators to have a spacing of 5 minutes between each bus during pick hours and a spacing of 15 minutes between each bus during off peak hours.

The new public transport system is planned to start working on 30th August 2013.

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Source: Kigali City Website