English
Kinyarwanda
By AIP Frank Tumusime
For the past three months, roads in the country have become more than transport corridors; they have become classrooms.
In bus parks, truck stops, roadside gatherings, and busy town centers, drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and passengers were mobilized around a simple truth about road safety, traffic rules, and personal responsibility.
Launched on November 7, 2025 by the Rwanda National Police (RNP), the ‘Turindane Tugereyo Amahoro’ road safety campaign marked a shift from enforcement-heavy approaches toward behavior change and shared accountability.
Rooted in the broader Gerayo Amahoro program, the initiative carried a powerful message to every road user: “Let’s protect one another and arrive safely.” Rather than waiting for road users to encounter police checkpoints, the campaign took safety messages directly to the people. Officers, local leaders, and partners engaged communities in Rusizi, Kayonza, Rubavu, Kamonyi, Musanze, and other parts of the country.
Taking Safety to the People
In Musanze, more than 1,000 road users gathered at a bus park to discuss how everyday actions, from speeding and careless overtaking to distracted walking or ignoring road signs, can determine whether a journey ends safely or tragically.
The campaign mostly targets those who spend most of the time on the road
According to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Boniface Rutikanga, the RNP spokesperson, this approach was deliberate.
“Ignorance of the law does not cause most road accidents; poor behavior does. This campaign targets all categories of road users to promote positive change and remind everyone that safety is a shared responsibility,” he noted.
Leadership Voices Reinforce the Message
At the campaign’s launch in Rubavu District, Minister of State for Infrastructure Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye reminded road users that Rwanda’s expanding road network is meant to drive development, not loss of life.
Minister of State for Infrastructure Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye reminding road users that expanding road network should be crucial for economic development not come at the cost of human life
“This infrastructure helps us to work, trade, and develop, not to lose lives. Obey traffic rules, maintain your vehicles, protect each other, and protect yourself.”
He further linked road safety to environmental responsibility, urging motorists to comply with vehicle maintenance and emissions inspection requirements.
The Minister of interior Dr. Vincent Biruta speaking of the impact of road users who understand and fulfill their responsibility in achieving Road safety
In Kayonza District, Minister of Interior Dr. Vincent Biruta reinforced the campaign’s core philosophy of cooperation.
“Turindane Tugereyo Amahoro means ‘I protect you, and you protect me.’ Road safety can only be achieved when every road user understands their responsibility toward others.”
Responsibility Begins with the Citizen
The ministers’ messages were echoed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), CG Felix Namuhoranye, who stressed that the primary responsibility for road safety lies with citizens themselves, even before the police.
“Passengers and pedestrians,” he noted, “are often the first victims of road crashes, despite simply going about their daily lives. The first person who must take responsibility for road safety is the passenger and the pedestrian. Accidents happen to them while they are simply moving along, and this should not happen.”
IGP Felix Namuhoranye addressing road users at the launch of Turindane Tugereyo Amahoro in Rubavu District
Drivers and motorcyclists were also urged to avoid driving under the influence of alcohol, and passengers were encouraged to be proactive: to speak up against reckless driving, report dangerous behavior promptly, and, if necessary, refuse to continue a journey with an unsafe driver.
“Advise them to drive carefully. If they refuse, ask them to stop and get out of the vehicle, or call us so that we can take action,” the IGP said.
Voices from the Road
The campaign also amplified voices from those who spend their lives on the road. Habumuremyi Justin, a truck driver, called on operators of heavy vehicles to lead by example.
“Trucks are not the problem. Vehicles do not drive themselves. Accidents happen because of negligence. Drivers of large trucks must be more skilled, more vigilant, and more cautious because the damage can be extensive.”
The active participation of road users in Turindane Tugereyo Amahoro campaign allowed shifting of models from simple awareness to shared responsibility and accountability
As the first phase of Turindane Tugereyo Amahoro came to a close, community leaders, police officers, and road users observed growing awareness, improved discipline, and a stronger sense of mutual respect on Rwanda’s roads.
While the campaign’s long term impact will be assessed over time, early indicators suggest meaningful progress. Over the three months, the Western Province recorded only two fatal road accidents, a reduction authorities attribute to heightened awareness, better compliance with traffic rules, increased police visibility, and the use of surveillance cameras.
While enforcement remains essential, the campaign has demonstrated that lasting change begins with mindset. As the Rwanda National Police prepares for subsequent phases, Turindane Tugereyo Amahoro is steadily evolving from a public awareness initiative into a national movement for shared responsibility.
