KIGALI - Kigali Bus Services (KBS), a city commuter company that started back in 2006 has resumed services.
According to the company officials, KBS revived its city operations on July 15.

Unlike other operators in the city, the re-branded KBS operates with a ticketing system with tickets going for Rwf 200 (one hour), Rwf 500(a day) while a ticket for 30-days goes for Rwf10,000.

KBS Accountant Josée Marie Uwamariya acknowledges that in 2006, they started business with few (five) buses of their own and faced challenges.

"In 2006, we had started with ten buses, five of them borrowed and costly, and all were old and could often break down but today we have 20 buses,”

She said that they are currently studying the market potential to determine whether more buses could be brought in.

The company’s operations are approved by RURA but unlike its competitors, the former does not allow KBS buses to go into city bus parks.

"We would ruin the required normal fast flow aspect. RURA allows us to only circulate in town and that is why you will find our buses moving with only two or three passengers.”

"We don’t keep people long at bus stops either, we park for one to exit and immediately leave if there no others waiting by the road,” says Serge Haidali, the in-charge of KBS bus travels.
Commuters speak out

Most of the city travelers The New Times interviewed appeared to be upbeat about the new system.

"You know, unlike other buses on the Kimironko route, this one takes me down up to Kwa Mushimire (down Kimironko prison) where I live.

I can spend twenty minutes home, come back and board another KBS bus without paying,” Aurore Uwamwezi said.

Jacques Ntigurirwa seemed not taken up. He has used the buses twice since they took to the streets again and has been disappointed.

"Whenever I want to catch their next bus I have to wait for long. Other taxis come and you can’t just stand there waiting for over thirty minutes for the Kigali Bus coach. Once I waited but they passed-by late afterwards while full,” Ntigurirwa said.

Ends