Kigali City authorities has announced a new policy on Friday banning all seven-seater taxis from operating within city limits, without a transport operator licence.
This comes after the introduction of new changes in Kigali’s public transport in an attempt to regularise the city’s ubiquitous but controversial fleet of vans that transport commuters on fixed routes across the capital.
Government had earlier in October allowed the owners of unlicensed seven-seater cars to carry passengers at a negotiated fare and without paying taxes.
It was a temporary measure introduced to deal with a shortage of buses and long queues at bus stations, but the government has now taken further long-term measures to fix the issues in public transport in the City of Kigali, according to Minister of Infrastructure Jimmy Gasore.
The owners of the unlicenced seven-seater vehicles did not pay taxes and “we did not consider them as businesspeople,” Gasore said.
But he says the government’s latest intervention, especially the move to buy 200 buses and provided them at a subsidised price for potential investors, would help fix the woes in public transport in the long-run.
“It was a temporary move meant to fix the gap in public transport and we communicated that,” he said, adding that those who want to continue as public transport operators should now get the licence for taxis.
According to officials, over 60 percent of the seven-seater taxis currently navigating Kigali’s roads do so illicitly without proper documentation, insurance, or adhering to basic safety standards. This new policy will force them to either formalise operations or cease activities altogether.
Licenced taxi operators have lauded the measure, hoping it reduces competition from maverick drivers. But some citizens argue the sudden blanket ban unfairly targets self-employed drivers trying to make a living.
This policy extends Kigali City’s efforts to strengthen governance over public transportation. Officials say long-awaited improvements like designated parking spaces, replacement vehicle incentives, and new cooperative models will aid above-board operators going forward.
