Editor,

We experienced an ugly scene last week when an enraged passenger grabbed a commuter taxi conductor by the colar, accusing him of hiking transport fares in total disregard of the Rwanda regulatory Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA) directive. The taxi belonged to Atraco, a commuter transport organization.

This passenger had boarded the taxi from Kacyiru, heading to Kimironko. 

However, he disembarked at Ministry of Justice.  Immediately, the quarrel ensued when the conductor demanded Rwf190 from him.
 
The passenger’s plea that he should not be charged the same amount as other passengers who had boarded from town fell on deaf ears. 

The dispute only cooled down after the intervention of other passengers.

Recently, Rwanda regulatory Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA), announced that a kilometre only costs Rwf19. Surely, from Kacyiru to Ministry of Justice can’t be Rwf190, which is equivalent to 10kilometres, the conductor was demanding from the passenger.
I think, this is cheating and RURA must address it immediately. Commuter Taxi owners should not take advantage of passengers’ innocence to fleece them.

Ivan Buyinza
Kigali