EDITORIAL: Rura should expedite revision of transport tariffs

A reduction in fuel prices should quickly translate into reduced transport prices for passengers and the urgent call goes to the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (Rura) to ensure that it happens as soon as possible. Within less than 10 months, prices for diesel and petrol have gone down from Rwf1,030 a litre to Rwf895; which is a Rwf135 decrease. Despite the significant decrease, bus operators around the City of Kigali and from the city to provinces have continued to charge the same amount of money as they used to before the reduction in fuel prices. It is not fair for bus operators to continue cashing in on the reduction of fuel prices when there is a regulator (Rura) which is supposed to insure that every Rwandan benefits from changes in fuel prices. Even if officials at Rura have set up a team to look into the viability of revising downwards public transport tariffs as pump prices continue to plummet, the only way the average Rwandan will know that a team is out there working is when they see changes in their transport fares. A decrease of Rwf135 on a litre of fuel is big decrease indeed and Rwandans are naturally waiting for a reduction in transport prices as they wait Rura to come up with its recommendations. The above said, Rura should expedite revision of transport tariffs in order to stay true to its job because delayed feedback for Rwandans would be denied service.

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EDITORIAL: Rura should expedite revision of transport tariffs