Rwanda National Police

Rwanda National Police (RNP) has arrested three people after they were found driving with forged driver's license, a crime punishable under article 609 of the Rwandan penal code.

It states that any person who forges or alters documents shall be liable to a term of imprisonment of five years to seven years and a fine of Rwf300, 000 to Rwf3 million.

The crackdown comes in the wake of RNP's intensified action against forged driver's licence and to preserve road safety and reduce road carnage.

Police say acquiring a licence illegally or owning a forged one is likely to contribute to road accidents because holders lack driving skills and most of the time know less about traffic rules.

The suspects are identified as Benjamin Ingabire, 28, Emmanuel Nzarora, 41 and Remy Habihirwe, 35, all who are currently detained  at Nyamata Police station in Bugesera district.

They were arrested separately on various high-ways.

Police is currently investigating circumstances under which they obtained the fake documents and to apprehend all those involved, Chief Inspector of Police,  Emmanuel Kabanda, spokesperson for the Traffic and Road Safety, said.

Among the suspects still at large is the instructor at Nyamata Driving School, whom one of the suspects, Nzarora claimed gave him the fake licence.

"He told me to forgo driving school lessons and instead give him Rwf150, 000 saying he has friends in Police that would help me acquire a permit. I did not know that the licence he brought was fake," Nzarora argued.

CIP Kabanda warned potential car drivers to adhere to traffic safety by going through all the requirements of acquiring a legitimate driving permit rather than falling prey to unscrupulous individuals who claim to work with Traffic Police.

“The public must be informed that whoever gets involved in forgery of such documents will be pursued and be brought to justice, because it is such acts that undermine road safety and put innocent lives at risk on a daily basis,” CIP Kabanda said.

RNP seized 81 counterfeit driving licenses over the last six months and arrested criminal masterminds who make forge 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," he added.

“Police is the only entity that issues driving permits – and it does so only after the prospective driver has passed provisional or practical tests. This is because through tests, we get to teach and qualify those who are skilled drivers and understand road safety rules.”

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.