Proprietors of churches and leisure spots, including night clubs, bars and restaurants, have been urged to conduct their businesses with respect to other people’s rights and to abide by the law. Police spokesperson Damas Gatare said yesterday that although some people in the industry have responded positively to “repeated calls” to lower down the sound of their music system and install soundproof equipment, there are those that have remained defiant. “Those that still violate the law on noise pollution and night disturbance are advised to think twice,” Gatare said in a statement. “We have on several occasions met and explained to them what the law stipulates and what it requires and at this point we expect everyone to do exactly what is required.” The meetings, held at different occasions, brought together police, the City of Kigali, owners of entertainment spots, churches and Cabinet ministers. The meetings resolved that they would ‘with immediate effect’ stop or lower the sound of their music instruments, install sound proofs and operate in designated places and facilities. “The operation against noise pollution and night disturbance is, therefore, not meant to disrupt doing business as some people want to perceive it; actually it’s meant to facilitate ‘doing business’ to ensure that one business doesn’t affect the other,” he said. “People’s businesses and belief should be done in a way that other people’s rights are put into consideration. “We are simply implementing laws which were put in place to facilitate doing business.” Police have in the past few weeks arrested some owners of churches and bars, while some leisure spots have been closed temporarily and owners fined for the “noise nuisance” which Police say contravens Article 600 of the Penal Code and Articles 37 and 108 of the Organic Law on Environment. The laws Article 37 gives authority to any competent institution to take a decision aimed at stopping any emission of noise that is harmful to health of biodiversity, disrupts the neighbourhood or damages the property. Article 108 also penalises anyone who “makes or facilitates in causing noise that may disturb road users and the neighborhood” with a fine ranging from Rwf10,000 to Rwf100,000. Under Article 600, “any person found guilty of making noise and night disturbance in a way that causes trouble among people is liable to a term of imprisonment of eight days to two months and a fine of Rwf50,000 to Rwf1 million or both. Some bars and restaurants, he said, have turned into night clubs illegally with neighbouring ones playing loud music as a way of competing and attracting clients, while some night clubs are yet to fulfill requirements such as soundproof system. “We expect owners of these business spots to do exactly what their licence specifies because beyond that, you will be conducting it illegally.” On churches, he said, the response is “positive” and appealed to others to also respond as it was agreed in the last meetings.
