English
Kinyarwanda
The Rwanda National Police (RNP), in partnership with the Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA), rolled out a nationwide campaign on Monday, January 26, urging motor vehicle owners to complete ownership transfers as required by law, curb traffic violations and improve accountability.
The campaign aims to facilitate individuals who bought, sold, or received vehicles but failed to complete the mandatory ownership transfer process as well as deregistering end-of-life vehicles and motorcycles.
Speaking to the press on Tuesday, January 27, the RNP spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Boniface Rutikanga, said traffic law enforcement continues to face serious challenges due to motor vehicles that are still registered under former owners’ names.
“We frequently impound vehicles for traffic offenses, but when penalties are issued, they are sent to people who no longer own those automobiles” ACP Rutikanga said. “In many cases, the registered owner tells us they sold the vehicle long ago but never completed mutation, yet fines and legal responsibility continue to fall on them.”
ACP Rutikanga explained that the problem becomes more complex when vehicles are involved in serious crimes such as smuggling, drug trafficking, hit-and-run accidents, or when they are abandoned after committing offenses.
“When it comes to auctioning seized vehicles, we first contact the registered owners, only to hear that they sold the vehicle or motorcycle and lost contact with the buyer,” he noted. “The person legally recorded as the owner is often not the one who committed the offense, but they still bear the consequences.”
He said motor-vehicles of all categories are affected, prompting authorities to take decisive action. However, before strict enforcement begins, the Police and RRA are giving the public a grace period to regularize their documentation.
“Before penalties are enforced, we want people to come forward. Designated service sites have been established across the country to help resolve ownership transfer issues,” he said.
ACP Rutikanga warned that owning a motor-vehicle whose license plate numbers and logbook are not in one’s name will soon attract legal consequences, as such gaps are often exploited to evade responsibility for traffic violations, taxes and crimes.
He further assured the public that individuals facing challenges—such as being unable to locate a seller—will be assisted through lawful procedures.
“If the seller is available, they will be required to fulfill their legal obligations. If they are unavailable due to death, imprisonment, or relocation abroad, authorities are in place to help register the vehicle in the current owner’s name,” he added.
Jean Paulin Uwitonze, Assistant Commissioner for Taxpayer Services and Communication at RRA, reiterated that all vehicles and motorcycles, whether imported or locally sourced, must be registered with RRA.
“Imported motor-vehicles must clear customs and pay all applicable taxes before being registered and issued with license plates and a registration card,” Uwitonze said. “Once a vehicle is sold or given as a gift, the law requires that ownership be transferred to the new owner.”
He emphasized that sellers are legally required to complete the mutation process within eight days of selling a vehicle.
“Failure to do so has led to widespread misuse of motor-vehicles for tax evasion, illegal businesses, smuggling, and other crimes,” he said. “In some cases, vehicles belonging to deceased owners continue circulating illegally because plates were never returned.”
Uwitonze revealed that over 16,000 people have already applied for ownership transfer services. Of these, 6,000 have no obstacles and can proceed immediately, while 10,000 face various challenges within the mutation process.
“Even those with complications will be assisted until their issues are resolved,” he said. “We also encourage anyone who has not yet applied to come forward without fear. There will be no justification for failing to complete mutation—we are here to help.”
Authorities stressed that the campaign is aimed at protecting the rights of buyers, sellers, and all road users, while closing loopholes that allow offenders to evade accountability.
