Rwanda removes limitations on cargo trucks

The regional truck drivers who were previously being stopped at Rugende for causing traffic congestion in the city have welcomed the temporary move that will see their trucks released faster. Previously, the City of Kigali had put directives not to release any long distance truck from 4:00pm to around 8p.m an act that impeded the drivers and seen as a non tariff barrier. Over 30 trucks would be parked at Rugende.The issue of trucks at Rugende in Rusororo sector in Gasabo District had raised a serious concern among the regional traders.“Rugende did not have facilities like restaurants, shops, power, which hindered the drivers. You can imagine being stopped for almost four or five hours in such a place. But now, we don’t have any problem, trucks are moving,” Theodore Murenzi the Secretary General of Rwanda Long Distance Truck Drivers Union(ACPLRWA), said All the stakeholders, including the Ministry of Infrastructure, ACPLRWA, Police and others agreed to be releasing one truck per 10 minutes as a temporary solution for the truck drivers.Murenzi further said, they are happy with the temporary move until they obtain a permanent one after Magerwa relocates to the free zone area where trucks would be destined.Chief Supt Celestin Twahirwa, the Traffic Police commanding officer, said they monitor the process to avoid causing traffic congestion. “When a truck is released, we monitor it. When it’s about to reach Magerwa, we release another,” he said.He said the trucks move conveniently since they are not many during day time.Jean Claude Rurangwa, the public transport and traffic manager in the City of Kigali said new mechanisms of reducing traffic congestion have been established citing construction of new feeder roads.“To address the issue of traffic jam you need to widen roads and construct new feeder roads. That’s what we have embarked on in this year. The problem is not affecting only truck drivers but also other road users, ” he told The New Times. He added the he was optimist that the widening roads would resolve the congestion as they monitor the situation.Non tariff barriers that still exist in the member countries are regarded to be among the factors hindering the regional integration process. Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya have more barriers compared to other member states.Lately, Rwanda has embarked on having bilateral approach to address the issue beginning with Uganda and then the other countries.The recent report on NTBs indicated that there were 36 roadblocks between Mombasa and Kigali, 30 between Dar es salaam and Rusumo border .Uganda had nine between Malaba

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Rwanda removes limitations on cargo trucks