Kinyarwanda
English
Rwanda National Police (RNP), in partnership with local authorities and road safety stakeholders, on Tuesday, November 11, conducted the “Turindane Tugereyo Amahoro” road safety campaign in Kamonyi District, calling on all road users to uphold shared responsibility to prevent accidents.
The event that brought together over 1000 categories of road users, was presided over by the Governor of the Southern Province, Alice Kayitesi, and the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) in charge of Operations, CP Vincent Sano.
Governor Kayitesi commended the government’s continued investment in transport infrastructure, noting that the Southern Province has seen major developments aimed at easing mobility and enhancing safety.
“Here in our province, much has been achieved in improving road transport,” she said. “We can mention key roads such as Huye–Kibeho, Huye–Gisagara, Huye–Kitabi, which have been rehabilitated, and Muhanga–Karongi, which is nearing completion. Even the Kigali–Muhanga road, will soon be upgraded.”
She emphasized that road safety is not only about saving lives but also about protecting public infrastructure.
“The campaign ‘Turindane’ should not be seen only in terms of preventing loss of life but also as a call to safeguard public infrastructure — roads, bridges, streetlights, and traffic cameras — which all contribute to our collective safety and wellbeing,” Governor Kayitesi added.
She also highlighted Kamonyi’s strategic location along the busy Kigali–Huye corridor, which experiences heavy traffic due to trade, tourism, and cross-province transport, urging drivers to exercise greater caution and discipline.
In his remarks, DIGP Sano reiterated that the “Turindane” campaign is part of a continuous nationwide effort to promote behavioral change and reduce road crashes.
“This is not a one-time campaign; it is a continuous awareness that will spread to all districts,” DIGP Sano said. “We are here to share ideas and sensitize each other about road safety because road accidents have become a global concern, claiming millions of lives every year.”
Road accidents remain one of the leading causes of death globally, with an estimated over one million fatalities annually, with its impact extending beyond loss of life.
“Accidents result not only in deaths and injuries but also a great economic losses — from vehicle repairs to medical expenses and lost productivity,” he said. “By preventing them, we save lives and preserve national resources.”
DIGP Sano cited major causes of road accidents, including speeding, drunk driving, reckless overtaking, driving under fatigue, poor vehicle maintenance, and disregard for traffic signs.
He urged transport cooperatives to promote driver rotation to combat fatigue-related accidents.
Speaking to the media, RNP Spokesperson ACP Boniface Rutikanga underscored that the campaign is part of the continuous Gerayo Amahoro programme and seeks to build a culture of responsibility among all road users.
“This campaign is aimed at promoting road safety and encouraging all road users to prevent accidents. Gerayo Amahoro has not changed — its objectives remain the same — but it calls for everyone to take responsibility and make safety a culture rather than something done by law,” ACP Rutikanga said.
He said that the campaign targets areas with high accident rates and unsafe driving practices.
ACP Rutikanga called for collective action and mindset change to make road safety a shared responsibility.
“We all want to live, to earn a living, to support our families, and to develop our nation,” he said. “But without ensuring the safety of those we transport, the goods we carry, and other road users, all our efforts would be in vain. Respect traffic laws and regulations so that we can all reach our destinations safely.”
