Photos: Three-day public transport crisis bites upcountry commuters

Thousands of people will not be able to celebrate Christmas with their families as woes in the public transport system for upcountry commuters continue to prevail, The New Times’ mini-survey has found out. The upcountry commuters were stranded on Saturday, some were sleeping in the bus terminal, others seated on the ground and sweating as mothers were busy breastfeeding their children waiting for the buses. Police officers were deployed in the bus terminal for security assurance on all entrances of public bus companies’ ticketing offices and inside the bus terminal. “I got the ticket on Friday to depart on Saturday but until now [4:30pm] I have not yet got the bus,” Aime Ruzibukira told The New Times. Upcountry commuters seeking to book tickets from Kivu Belt to go to western province were raising their hands with their money asking for tickets in a squeezed crowd. “I arrived at Nyabugogo Bus Terminal at 09:00 am but until now I have not yet got a ticket. We are told we could depart tomorrow on Sunday,” said Petronille Nyirazaninka, another passenger who was complaining Saturday afternoon. “I am going to Huye District but since this morning I have not yet got a ticket,” Rose Mukamuna, another Passenger seeking a ticket from a company called “Different” , said. Another passenger going to Gicumbi district said from 08:30 up to 04:00 pm he had not yet got a ticket from Matunda bus Transport Company. “I am on queue and I do not know when I will depart. We are told we might tomorrow. Bus companies should avail more buses,” he said. Theogene Rutinduka, bus operator at Alpha Company, said that they faced shortage of buses. “People want to go upcountry on the same day before Christmas and therefore we were frustrated. At least 20 buses were being used and now at least 40 buses need to be used,” he said. On Friday some people turned the Christmas upcountry commuters’ chaos into business. The New Times found they are buying tickets earlier and selling them to stranded passengers at higher prices on Friday. “I got a ticket at Rwf3,000 to go to Musanze yet passengers should pay about Rwf2,000 only,” said Godelive Uwambajimana who went with International Bus Company. On Thursday tickets from RITCO Company for people going to Western and Northern provinces were already exhausted by 05:00pm. Only tickets to Eastern and Southern provinces were available for commuters. Personal car owners are chipping in but at a higher price, commuters said. Pudence Rubingisa, the City of Kigali Mayor, warned against rising transport fares. “We have spoken to public transport companies to ensure fares are not hiked,” he told the press on Thursday.

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Photos: Three-day public transport crisis bites upcountry commuters