{"id":92905,"date":"2024-12-24T17:23:26","date_gmt":"2024-12-24T17:23:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/passengers-in-kigali-scramble-for-upcountry-bound-buses-on-christmas-eve"},"modified":"2024-12-24T18:11:12","modified_gmt":"2024-12-24T18:11:12","slug":"passengers-in-kigali-scramble-for-upcountry-bound-buses-on-christmas-eve","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/photo\/passengers-in-kigali-scramble-for-upcountry-bound-buses-on-christmas-eve","title":{"rendered":"Passengers in Kigali scramble for upcountry-bound buses on Christmas Eve"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. <\/strong><\/span>Bus parks in Kigali were a hive of activity on Christmas Eve, as travellers heading to various upcountry locations hurried to catch buses to their respective destinations ahead of Christmas Day.<\/p>\n

Early in the morning of Tuesday, December 24, some passengers arrived at Nyabugogo bus park only to be informed that buses to their respective destinations had been relocated to different other locations, including Nyanza bus park, in Kicukiro District; Kigali Pele Stadium in Nyamirambo, Nyarugenge District; and Kabuga bus park, in Gasabo District.<\/p>\n

Travellers turned up in large numbers at different locations on Christmas Eve to catch buses as they looked to join their families upcountry for holiday re-unions. Photo by Emmanuel Dushimimana.<\/p>\n

Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) on December 17 announced new locations in Kigali where passengers would board upcountry-bound buses as a way to avoid long queues at Nyabugogo bus station as the festive season kicked in.<\/p>\n

The measures were taken in anticipation of a sudden swell in numbers of passengers usually witnessed around this time of the year when thousands travel from the City of Kigali headed for different destinations across the country to celebrate Christmas and the New Year with their loved ones, which often results in long queues and congestion at the main bus station.<\/p>\n

From December 23-24, and from December 30-31, passengers travelling to the southern corridor (Kamonyi, Muhanga, Ruhango, Nyanza, Huye, Nyamasheke, Karongi, Ngororero, Gisagara, Rusizi, Rutsiro and Nyaruguru) will catch buses at Kigali Pele Stadium, in Nyamirambo.<\/p>\n

Passengers travelling to the eastern corridor (Rwamagana, Kayonza, Gatsibo, Nyagatare, Ngoma and Kirehe), will board buses at Kabuga bus park, while heading north (Gicumbi, Nyagatare [through Gicumbi], Rulindo, Musanze, Rubavu, Burera, Gakenke and Nyabihu), are to use the Nyabugogo bus park.<\/p>\n

Passengers travelling to Bugesera will board buses from Nyanza bus park in Kicukiro.<\/p>\n

RURA recommended that people planning to travel during the holidays should make reservations in advance to avoid being stranded at the bus stations.<\/p>\n

Travellers braved a light downpour as they headed to different locations across the City of Kigali to board buses en route to upcountry destinations to join their families ahead of Christmas. Photo by Emmanuel Dushimimana.<\/p>\n

According to the statement, the regulator and the City of Kigali staff will be present at different bus parks to facilitate commuters’ movement.<\/p>\n

Gideon Bizakorimana, a 28-year-old man from Kanombe, who was waiting for a bus in Nyabugogo to go and celebrate Christmas with his family in Muhanga District, said: “I didn\u2019t know that the buses to Muhanga were now departing from Nyamirambo. I\u2019m stunned, just like my friend who\u2019s also heading in the same direction.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bus fare hikes<\/p>\n

Bizakorimana said there was a sharp increase in ticket prices: “Some buses operating secretly from Nyabugogo are overcharging passengers, asking for over Rwf2,000, while the price used to be Rwf1,500.”<\/p>\n

Laurencie Nyiramuhanda, an elderly woman traveling to Kamonyi District (Nyamiyaga Sector), said: “I used to pay Rwf1,000, but now they\u2019re charging me Rwf2,500. We\u2019re being overcharged.” She was also unaware that the buses to Kamonyi had been moved to Kigali Pele Stadium, in Nyamirambo.<\/p>\n

Passengers await buses at Nyabugogo bus and taxi park earlier on Christmas Eve. Photo by Emmanuel Dushimimana.<\/p>\n

Vedaste Hakizimana, 47, from Masaka, was also waiting for a bus to Musanze District, at Nyabugogo bus park. “So far, there hasn\u2019t been much disorganization here. People heading in the same direction are at the same terminal,” he explained. “I\u2019ve already got my ticket and I\u2019m just waiting for the bus.”<\/p>\n

At Kigali Pele Stadium, passengers expressed frustration over transport hitches. Yvonne Nyiraneza, a 35-year-old resident of Nyarugenge District, who was headed for Ruhango District to visit her family, said: “It\u2019s not easy getting a bus here in Nyamirambo.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe measures in place aren\u2019t working well. I\u2019ve been waiting for four hours, and I still haven\u2019t found a bus!\u201d<\/p>\n

Costasie Nyiramana, 60, who had come to Kigali to visit a patient at CHUK from Nyamagabe, also shared her ordeal.<\/p>\n

Travellers were in a mad rush to catch buses at Nyabugogo bus and taxi park on Christmas Eve. Photo by Emmanuel Dushimimana.<\/p>\n

“I was here at Kigali Pele Stadium last night, but I couldn\u2019t find a bus back to Nyamagabe. I spent the night here, and this morning I finally got a ticket for a 9:30a.m bus. It\u2019s now 11:47a.m and I\u2019m still waiting for the bus to depart.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chief Inspector of Police Wellars Gahonzire, the spokesperson for Rwanda National Police in the City of Kigali, while acknowledging challenges, he was keen to cite improvement this time around. “Yes, it is true that waiting lines are still long, but they were even longer during previous festive seasons.\u201d<\/p>\n

Passengers heading north found buses at Nyabugogo park. Photo by Emmanuel Dushimimana.<\/p>\n

Authorities have earmarked three taxi parks and Kigali Pele Stadium to facilitate travellers headed for upcountry destinations for Christmas celebrations. Photo by Emmanuel Dushimimana.<\/p>\n

Travellers braved a light downpour as they headed to different locations across the City of Kigali to board buses en route to upcountry destinations to join their families ahead of Christmas. Photo by Emmanuel Dushimimana.<\/p>\n

Some travellers were left stranded as large numbers of citizens turned up at different locations seeking buses bound for upcountry destinations on Christmas Eve. Photo by Emmanuel Dushimimana.<\/p>\n

Scores of buses have been dedicated to upcountry routes to help meet a sudden surge in demand as the country embraces the holiday spirit. Photo by Emmanuel Dushimimana.<\/p>\n

Chief Inspector of Police Wellars Gahonzire, the spokesperson for Rwanda National Police in City of Kigali, speaks to journalists at Kigali Pele Stadium on Christmas Eve. Photo by Craish Bahizi.<\/p>\n

Travellers awat buses at Kigali Pele Stadium on Christmas Eve. Photo by Craish Bahizi<\/p>\n

Travellers look dejected earlier Tuesday, December 24, at Kigali Pele Stadium as demand seemed to outstrip capacity of public transport due to the sudden surge in numbers of passengers heading back to the village to celebrate Christmas with their families. Photo by Craish Bahizi.<\/p>\n

Ticket sellers serve travellers at Kigali Pele Stadium early Tuesday as thousands scrambled to catch buses en route to upcountry destinations. Photo by Craish Bahizi.<\/p>\n

Thousands were left stranded at Kigali Pele Stadium as they tried to find buses to head to upcountry destinations in the southern parts of the country on Christmas Eve. Photo by Craish Bahizi.<\/p>\n\r\n