Kigali, 29^th May 2019- In collaboration with RURA and Rwanda National Police, yesterday, Eng. Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye, Minister of State in Charge of Transport chaired a meeting with taxi drivers. Representatives from Yego Moto, a company licensed by RURA to install Intelligent Connected Fare Meters (ICFM) on all the motorcycles in the country were also present.

In his opening remarks, Eng. Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye, mentioned that the meeting aimed at hearing from taxi drivers in order to improve efficiently the use of Intelligent Connected Fare Meters, the new technology installed into their cars.

Commenting on advantages for this new technology, Minister of State said that it doesn`t only serve to ensure trust between passenger and driver, time and money saving but also to ensure professionalism in service delivery and security for both passenger and driver.

Passengers Road Transport Regulation N°007/TRANS/RT/RURA/2015 of 01/06/2015, governing public transport services in Rwanda, especially on its art 10, sets a taxi meter as a licensing requirement for Taxi Cabs.

According to statistics, only 30% of taxi drivers are using ICFM in City of Kigali.

As it was observed after exchanging ideas, the resistance for some drivers is due to the miscommunication.

According to Minister of State, the use of ICFM is compulsory. It is in that context that RURA was urged to organize similar meeting to discuss with taxis operators through their cooperatives or companies all aspects and issues related to the use of ICFM and come up with relevant solutions. A validation meeting with drivers is planned in two months after which there will be a serious enforcement.

Good enough to note that the new electronic meter is fully controlled online RURA, Yego and RNP for the purpose of monitoring and enforcement.

Minister of State also recommends a close communication between Taxi operators and their representatives (Presidents of cooperatives or companies) for better implementation of transport regulations in place.  

As Rwanda is on right track to becoming a Meeting, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) hub, Eng. Uwihanganye reaffirmed the Government`s commitment  to make transport smart and organized sector . “So, many tourists are coming to Rwanda and most of them use taxicabs. We need to ensure professionalism in service delivery”, He said.