Bus parks in Kigali were a hive of activity on Christmas Eve, as travellers heading to various upcountry locations hurried to catch buses to their respective destinations ahead of Christmas Day.

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Early in the morning of Tuesday, December 24, some passengers arrived at Nyabugogo bus park only to be informed that buses to their respective destinations had been relocated to different other locations, including Nyanza bus park, in Kicukiro District; Kigali Pele Stadium in Nyamirambo, Nyarugenge District; and Kabuga bus park, in Gasabo District.

Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) on December 17 announced new locations in Kigali where passengers would board upcountry-bound buses as a way to avoid long queues at Nyabugogo bus station as the festive season kicked in.

The measures were taken in anticipation of a sudden swell in numbers of passengers usually witnessed around this time of the year when thousands travel from the City of Kigali headed for different destinations across the country to celebrate Christmas and the New Year with their loved ones, which often results in long queues and congestion at the main bus station.

From December 23-24, and from December 30-31, passengers travelling to the southern corridor (Kamonyi, Muhanga, Ruhango, Nyanza, Huye, Nyamasheke, Karongi, Ngororero, Gisagara, Rusizi, Rutsiro and Nyaruguru) will catch buses at Kigali Pele Stadium, in Nyamirambo.

Passengers travelling to the eastern corridor (Rwamagana, Kayonza, Gatsibo, Nyagatare, Ngoma and Kirehe), will board buses at Kabuga bus park, while heading north (Gicumbi, Nyagatare [through Gicumbi], Rulindo, Musanze, Rubavu, Burera, Gakenke and Nyabihu), are to use the Nyabugogo bus park.

Passengers travelling to Bugesera will board buses from Nyanza bus park in Kicukiro.

RURA recommended that people planning to travel during the holidays should make reservations in advance to avoid being stranded at the bus stations.

According to the statement, the regulator and the City of Kigali staff will be present at different bus parks to facilitate commuters&039; movement.

Gideon Bizakorimana, a 28-year-old man from Kanombe, who was waiting for a bus in Nyabugogo to go and celebrate Christmas with his family in Muhanga District, said: "I didn’t know that the buses to Muhanga were now departing from Nyamirambo. I’m stunned, just like my friend who’s also heading in the same direction.”

Bus fare hikes

Bizakorimana said there was a sharp increase in ticket prices: "Some buses operating secretly from Nyabugogo are overcharging passengers, asking for over Rwf2,000, while the price used to be Rwf1,500."

Laurencie Nyiramuhanda, an elderly woman traveling to Kamonyi District (Nyamiyaga Sector), said: "I used to pay Rwf1,000, but now they’re charging me Rwf2,500. We’re being overcharged." She was also unaware that the buses to Kamonyi had been moved to Kigali Pele Stadium, in Nyamirambo.

Vedaste Hakizimana, 47, from Masaka, was also waiting for a bus to Musanze District, at Nyabugogo bus park. "So far, there hasn’t been much disorganization here. People heading in the same direction are at the same terminal," he explained. "I’ve already got my ticket and I’m just waiting for the bus."

At Kigali Pele Stadium, passengers expressed frustration over transport hitches. Yvonne Nyiraneza, a 35-year-old resident of Nyarugenge District, who was headed for Ruhango District to visit her family, said: "It’s not easy getting a bus here in Nyamirambo.

"The measures in place aren’t working well. I’ve been waiting for four hours, and I still haven’t found a bus!”

Costasie Nyiramana, 60, who had come to Kigali to visit a patient at CHUK from Nyamagabe, also shared her ordeal.

"I was here at Kigali Pele Stadium last night, but I couldn’t find a bus back to Nyamagabe. I spent the night here, and this morning I finally got a ticket for a 9:30a.m bus. It’s now 11:47a.m and I’m still waiting for the bus to depart.”

Chief Inspector of Police Wellars Gahonzire, the spokesperson for Rwanda National Police in the City of Kigali, while acknowledging challenges, he was keen to cite improvement this time around. "Yes, it is true that waiting lines are still long, but they were even longer during previous festive seasons.”