Rwanda National Police

Rwanda National Police (RNP) in collaboration with relevant entities, have rolled out a campaign to raise awareness against moto-vehicle fuel emissions.

The campaign conducted on different roads, bus parks and automobile inspection centres target vehicles and motorcycles, which are considered the major air pollutants in Rwanda.

According to Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), highly polluting vehicles and machinery have either not been properly and regularly serviced or use fossil fuel that does not comply with national standards.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that air pollution is one of the greatest environmental risk to health, including stroke, heart diseases, lung cancer, as well as chronic and acute respiratory diseases such as asthma.

The RNP spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Boniface Rutikanga said that although vehicle gas emissions is a traffic offence, it starts with awareness on exhaust fumes control measures.

"The campaign against fuel emissions is part of the national policy to ensure all motor-vehicles are emission free to protect the environment and other health risks," ACP Rutikanga said.

The Automobile Inspection Centres tests, among others, gas emissions.

The campaign seeks to encourage owners and drivers of motor-vehicles to ensure regular service and taken for mechanical inspection.

It also aims at educating motorists on health risks of fossil fuels to influence behaviour change to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to improve the quality of air we breathe.

Article 86 of the Presidential Decree No. 85/01 of 02/09/2002 regulating general traffic Police and road traffic, stipulates that “Motor vehicles and mopeds must be so conditioned as not to spread in an abnormal way oil and combustion wastes, and not to produce smoke exhausts, beside the motor starting and not to be a nuisance to the public or frighten animals by noise; in any case; they cannot emit noises.” 

Deborah Nibagwire, the Air Quality Specialist at REMA, said that the gas emissions from vehicles produce chemical substances that endanger human life and affect the environment.

“Automobile emissions are considered as major source of pollution; chemical substances contained in gas emission pose severe consequences on both the non-human and human environments; categories of people vulnerable to gas emission emitted by motor vehicles include children, elderly, people with chronic disease, and expecting mothers,” Nibagwire said.