Most businesses remained closed during Christmas day. As many people were keen to attend Christmas mass some shops closed while those which opted to open made very minimal business.

A mini survey conducted by The New Times in Kayonza and Rwamagana district showed that many people had shopped on Christmas Eve.

According to Sotra and Stella transport (express) Companies, plying the Eastern Province routes , there has been an identifiable decline of passengers, from the region to city (Kigali), while the reverse is true for those from Kigali to the countryside.

A company worker said, ‘There is no car that left this place full of passengers, there are few people moving to Kigali, but there are many from Kigali’.

There was an overwhelming number of passengers from Kigali to the region on Christmas Eve, and the same pattern  continued up to Christmas day.

Joseph Kamurasi wanted to travel  to Kayonza on Christmas Eve. Upon arrival at the taxi park he found a big number of stranded passengers.

Being part of them, he moved from town to Remera suburbs  hoping to find alternative transport, but all in vain. He decided to give up traveling on Christmas Eve and waited to resume his journey on Christmas day.

Rose Uwase a shop attendant said that she only got a very small number of customers  who started streaming in after 12:00.

Because of the low turn out she decided to close the shop so that she could go home to celebrate Christmas with her family. Meanwhile, most of the restaurants remained closed, save for a few which had roasted meat and snacks.

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