The call was made during a crime prevention and awareness campaign held in Huye District. The campaign reminded motorcycle taxi operators that their profession gives them frequent contact with people from different backgrounds, putting them in a unique position to help prevent crimes committed on the roads and in the wider community.
The Southern Province Police spokesperson, CIP Hassan Kamanzi, urged motorcycle taxi operators to comply with all requirements governing their profession and remain vigilant against crimes that may occur on the roads.
“We have reminded them of what is expected of them so that they can prevent crime in their daily work. We urged them to operate motorcycles with all the required documents, avoid all forms of crime that may be committed on the roads, uphold Rwandan cultural values, maintain good hygiene, avoid drugs and illicit alcohol, and refrain from anything that violates the law,” he said.
He emphasized that the profession should not be limited to transporting passengers, but should also be accompanied by responsible conduct and a commitment to public safety.
Emmanuel Ngendabanga, a motorcycle taxi operator, said the awareness sessions help them improve their services and address shortcomings that may arise in their profession.
“We appreciate the Police whenever they provide us with training like this because it helps us improve our work. Sometimes some of our colleagues operate without maintaining proper hygiene, and these lessons help us improve our conduct and services,” he said.
Cécile Uwimana, another motorcycle taxi operator, said such awareness campaigns help them understand how they should conduct themselves when transporting passengers, particularly when they become suspicious of what passengers may be carrying.
“Police awareness campaigns like this help us identify misconduct that may be committed by passengers, including those carrying drugs or other prohibited items. We are able to identify such situations and report them to the authorities instead of unknowingly transporting criminals without detecting what they are carrying,” she said.
François Remera, The Huye District motorcycle taxi operators’ representative, said the fact that many motorcycle taxi operators are young people makes continuous awareness campaigns necessary to remind them of their responsibility in crime prevention.
“Many of them are young people, and some are sometimes used in criminal activities to transport illegal goods. Campaigns like this remind motorcycle taxi operators to be cautious and work together with the Police and other authorities to prevent crimes committed in different parts of the community,” he said.
Meanwhile, Danny Rutoneshya, an official from the Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) in Huye District, urged motorcycle taxi operators to complete the legal transfer of motorcycle ownership, commonly known as mutation, on time whenever a motorcycle is bought or sold.
“For anyone who buys or sells a motorcycle, it is important to complete the ownership transfer within the period provided for by law so that the motorcycle’s records correspond with the information in the system. Failure to do so can put them at risk,” he said.
CIP Noel Pierre Celestin, responsible for road safety in Huye District, reminded motorcycle taxi operators to maintain good conduct while at work and comply with traffic laws and regulations. He also urged them to become active partners of the Police by providing information in a timely manner.
“A motorcycle taxi operator should not simply look on when violations are being committed on the road. Whenever they notice a problem or activities that could threaten public safety, they should report them to the relevant authorities so that they can be addressed before they escalate,” he said.
The Huye District Police-Community Liaison Officer, Leonille SP Mujawamariya, also urged motorcycle taxi operators to play an active role in preventing and combating crime. She noted that criminals sometimes use motorcycle taxi operators to transport illegal items and called on riders to exercise caution and verify, as much as possible, the nature of what and whom they are transporting.
She encouraged them to immediately report passengers found carrying prohibited or illegal items to the Police or other relevant authorities so that appropriate action can be taken. The awareness campaign is part of ongoing efforts to encourage motorcycle taxi operators and the wider public to play an active role in preventing crime, reporting suspicious activities in a timely manner and avoiding actions that could expose them to legal consequences.
