{"id":32278,"date":"2022-12-25T16:37:23","date_gmt":"2022-12-25T16:37:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/photos-three-day-public-transport-crisis-bites-upcountry-commuters"},"modified":"2022-12-25T17:01:43","modified_gmt":"2022-12-25T17:01:43","slug":"photos-three-day-public-transport-crisis-bites-upcountry-commuters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/photo\/photos-three-day-public-transport-crisis-bites-upcountry-commuters","title":{"rendered":"Photos: Three-day public transport crisis bites upcountry commuters"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. <\/strong><\/span>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\u2019 mini-survey has found out.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Police officers were deployed in the bus terminal for security assurance on all entrances of public bus companies\u2019 ticketing offices and inside the bus terminal.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got the ticket on Friday to depart on Saturday but until now [4:30pm] I have not yet got the bus,\u201d Aime Ruzibukira told The New Times.<\/p>\n

Some of buses that transport commuters from Kigali to eastern province. Only tickets to Eastern and Southern provinces were available for commuters.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI 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,\u201d said Petronille Nyirazaninka, another passenger who was complaining Saturday afternoon.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am going to Huye District but since this morning I have not yet got a ticket,\u201d Rose Mukamuna, another Passenger seeking a ticket from a company called \u201cDifferent\u201d , said.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am on queue and I do not know when I will depart. We are told we might tomorrow. Bus companies should avail more buses,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Theogene Rutinduka, bus operator at Alpha Company, said that they faced shortage of buses.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

On Friday some people turned the Christmas upcountry commuters\u2019 chaos into business.<\/p>\n

The New Times found they are buying tickets earlier and selling them to stranded passengers at higher prices on Friday.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got a ticket at Rwf3,000 to go to Musanze yet passengers should pay about Rwf2,000 only,\u201d said Godelive Uwambajimana who went with International Bus Company.<\/p>\n

Some people were hopeless to find buses.<\/p>\n

On Thursday tickets from RITCO Company for people going to Western and Northern provinces were already exhausted by 05:00pm.<\/p>\n

Only tickets to Eastern and Southern provinces were available for commuters.<\/p>\n

Personal car owners are chipping in but at a higher price, commuters said.<\/p>\n

Pudence Rubingisa, the City of Kigali Mayor, warned against rising transport fares.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have spoken to public transport companies to ensure fares are not hiked,\u201d he told the press on Thursday.<\/p>\n

Commuters look so disappointed as they are stranded at Nyabugogo Taxi Park while heading upcountry to celebrate Christmas with their families, on Saturday, December 24. All Photos by Craish Bahizi<\/p>\n

Some people were hopeless to find buses.<\/p>\n

Many upcountry travelers were stranded at Nyabugogo taxi park on Saturday December 24. All photos by Craish Bahizi<\/p>\n

Only tickets to Eastern and Southern provinces were available for commuters.<\/p>\n\r\n