Huye Motorists Decry Chaos Caused by Faulty RURA Authorization System  Police and Regulator Trade Blame

As Rwanda continues to modernize public service delivery through digital platforms, Lifani motorcycle motorists in Huye District say they are being left behind, trapped in mounting confusion and daily financial loss.

The motorists allege that the digital authorization system managed by the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) a mandatory requirement for legal operation frequently fails or becomes inaccessible. When the system goes down, they cannot pay for or obtain the authorization, yet traffic police still penalize them with what motorists describe as unrelenting daily fines.

Many say their work has become an exhausting balancing act that is pushing them toward economic ruin. “We have no system and no answers”

Motorists in Huye report that the problem has persisted for months, growing more severe and unpredictable with time.

Long-time motorist MUSONERA Deo expressed his frustration in a voice heavy with fatigue: “You log into the system and it simply doesn’t work at all. We are facing a very serious problem because RURA is not issuing authorizations, yet the police fine us every single day. Today they write you a ticket, tomorrow they write you another. The burden falls entirely on us.”

According to MUSONERA, the situation is already driving many into deep financial distress, with motorcycles being seized at increasing rates: “They have even started confiscating motorcycles. When you go to Rwanda Revenue, they still count your taxes. Insurance companies continue to charge you. The bank keeps deducting the loan you used to buy the motorcycle even though you are stopped on the road every day. We are working for everyone else, and only God knows how we will survive.”

Another motorist, Nsanzimana Théoneste, who operates his Lifani motorcycle through a loan, says the crisis has begun to jeopardize his personal livelihood: “The police fine us daily, which means we end up working for others instead of supporting our families. We took loans, the government charges us taxes, and every institution charges us fees yet we are not allowed to work properly. Our lives are hanging by a thread.”

Motorists say they are mired in uncertainty, unsure which institution is responsible for the recurring system failures. Some are told RURA is responsible, while others are told it is an issue with national communication infrastructure. The lack of clarity, they say, has become intolerable. “We are trapped between RURA and the Police”

About ten Lifani motorists interviewed by Radio Salus said they fear they are being pushed into a bureaucratic limbo between two powerful institutions RURA and the Police neither of which appears willing to take responsibility.

Several described the situation as a form of “growing daily injustice”: “Police tell us to present authorization but where do we get it if RURA’s system never works? When we go to RURA, there is no one to attend to us. They are always in meetings, or the offices are inaccessible. So we remain stuck between RURA and the Police, and all the losses fall on us.”

They added that the problem has escalated beyond a technical hiccup: “We are asking the authorities to pull us out of this mess. We want to operate legally, but we cannot keep chasing a system that fails every day.”

Police: “Our responsibilities differ from RURA’s”

The spokesperson for Rwanda National Police’s traffic and road safety department, SP Emmanuel Kayigi, rejected assertions that the police are to blame for the motorists’ predicament.

In a detailed response, he emphasized institutional boundaries: “The Police are responsible for ensuring that all road users have the required documents. If you do not have them, we cannot know the origin of your problem. The issue of Lifani motorcycles lacking authorization is something RURA must address first. We cannot allow someone to operate without what is legally required. The Police have their responsibilities, and RURA has theirs.”

Motorists, however, argue that this explanation only deepens their vulnerability. They say the Police and RURA are passing responsibility back and forth while the economic impact continues to fall squarely on them.

RURA silent after repeated attempts to seek clarification

Radio Salus attempted to contact multiple RURA officials over a three-day period. All attempts were unsuccessful. Some officials indicated they were in meetings, while others did not pick up calls at all.

This silence has fueled speculation that while the issue may be acknowledged internally, communication to the affected motorcycle motorists remains insufficient or nonexistent.

Motorists demand long-term reforms before livelihoods collapse

Motorists are calling on RURA to urgently repair the system and issue clear public guidance during technical breakdowns. They also urge the Police to adopt temporary instructions for enforcement whenever the authorization platform is offline.

They argue that penalties should not precede the repair of a system over which they have no control.

More than 35 Lifani motorcycles in Huye left in operational uncertainty

Huye District hosts over 35 Lifani motorcycles, all of which depend entirely on the malfunctioning digital authorization system. Motorists warn that the continued instability is forcing some to abandon work and pushing many others to the brink of quitting altogether.

They are now appealing to all relevant institutions RURA, the Police, and local authorities to intervene before the crisis deepens any further.