Taxi fares go up countrywide

KIGALI - Taxi operators in the country have hiked fares for the first time in four years, raising the town service charges from Frw100 to Frw150.Passengers traveling within the city and its suburbs are paying more Frw50 while those to upcountry destinations are parting with more Frw150 on average.Rtd. Col. Dodo Twahirwa, president of commuter taxi drivers’ association said high fuel costs have forced them add between Frw100- Frw200 on upcountry routes. It is the first hike since 2004, when taxi operators raised fares. Passengers said the hike had an impact but they still had to use taxis, while many drivers said the increase is still the lowest in the region. The fare hike comes at a time the secretary general of Ministry of Commerce Justin Nsengiyumva recently said there was no need to increase transport charges as fuel in the country is over subsidized by 100 per cent to maintain the fuel prices at affordable rates.But Dodo described the increase as minimal and ‘still inconformity with government’s ceiling on transport fares in the country. “With the current fuel increases, what would you expect us to do really,” he said.He was referring to a recent fuel price increase in the country by Frw51 on average per litre.Ends