Rwanda National Police

Rwandans have been reminded about the fact that Rwanda National Police (RNP) is the only institution that issues driver's license.

The call comes in the wake of RNP seizing 81 counterfeit driving licenses over the last six months and arresting criminal masterminds who make them.

“Operations and investigations will continue to ensure that those in the habit of making and issuing fake licenses are apprehended. The act is strongly prohibited and punishable under laws of Rwanda. Whoever wants to get a driving license should approach only RNP,” Chief Inspector of Police, Emmanuel Kabanda, Spokesperson for traffic and road safety, said.

The criminal act is punishable under article 609 of the Rwandan penal code.

It states that “any person who forges or alters documents by forged signature or fingerprint, falsifying documents or signatures or impersonation, forging agreements, its provisions, obligations, discharged obligations shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of more than five years to seven years and a fine of Rwf300, 000 to Rwf3 million.”

“Most of those whose fake driving licenses were seized claimed that they thought they were genuine. Some of the masterminds behind this crime deceive their victims that they work for Police and that they can help them get licenses without doing tests as long as they pay a certain amount of money, which is in most cases a lot.”

Driver's licence seekers have, therefore, been cautioned to discard the idea of dealing with unscrupulous individuals to acquire drivers’ license which eventually turns out to be counterfeit.

“Police issues the license only after the prospective driver has gone passing provisional or practical tests. This is because through tests, we get to know conversant one knows road safety rules and driving skills.” he said.

In a positive development, Police arrested one of the ringleaders, identified as Hyacinthe Habimana, 24, who is suspected of luring licence seekers into buying fake ones believing that they are legitimate.

Habimana confessed to the crime adding that he has been "doing it for a long time." He called for leniency and advised those involved to refrain from the act "because now i understand the consequences involved."

In a bid to ease the process of acquiring driving permits, Police conducts driving license tests in private driving schools on monthly basis, introduced online registration and provides timely online feedback, among other initiatives. The public tests are conducted quarterly.

A driving license is issued within 14 days after a prospective candidate has provided all required documents.