Passenger service companies operating different upcountry routes were overwhelmed by the huge number of travelers on Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24.

This followed a surge in the number of passengers who thronged Nyabugogo Bus Terminal in Nyarugenge, as they made last-minute upcountry trips to join families in the countryside to celebrate Christmas Day.

Nyabugogo the main terminal for commuters to different parts of the country.

The commotion that came with the overwhelming number of commuters left them exposed to the ravaging Covid-19 pandemic, whose cases have spiked in recent days.

When The New Times visited the terminal at around 12:30 long queues could be seen on different routes without social distancing being observed among the passengers as per the measures in place to fight the pandemic.

However, all passengers were seen wearing face masks.

Many passengers who talked to The New Times said they had no hope to reach their destination before Christmas Day, as they had envisaged.

"I have been here since 10:30 am and it is now 13:00 and I still have no hope for a bus. We are on a long queue and it’s not moving; they don’t even tell us when we will get buses," said an old woman, Esther Mukashema, going to Huye district.

Things were much worse for Claver Manirakiza, who was transiting through Kigali.

"I am coming from Ngoma district. I reached here at 9:30. I want to go to Musanze but up to now, I have not been able to get a bus. I am stranded with nowhere to go,” said Manirakiza.

The passengers were requesting public transport owners to avail more buses to avoid staying the night in the bus park.

At the different offices of bus companies plying upcountry routes, there was a commotion as passengers complaining of not getting buses at the departure time on the tickets they had been given.

"I got a ticket at 11:00 am but I am told we will depart at 15:00 and we still see no optimism,” said David Tuyishimre going to Rubavu district.

Samuel Niyonzima had a ticket for 11:30 am but he has to depart at 15:00.

Most passengers in queues had not even secured a single ticket by 13:45.

"We have spent many hours here on the line. We are not sure when to depart. The only solution we wish is that they bring more buses and let all seats be occupied,” he said.

Decongesting park

Later in the afternoon, following complaints of lack of social distance in Nyabugogo, the City of Kigali decided to temporarily relocate ticketing services to Kigali Stadium in Nyamirambo for people going to some parts of the upcountry.

The decision aimed to decongest Nyabugogo Bus Park.

The passengers who were transferred to Nyamirambo include those going to the districts of Kamonyi, Muhanga, Nyamagabe, Karongi, Rusizi, Ngororero, Muhanga, Nyanza, Karongi, Rutsiro, Ruhango, Huye, Nyaruguru and  Nyamasheke.

The transportation has to make sure they meet curfew hour.

"We always remind all people to avoid unnecessary movements because as you meet many people, there is risk of getting infected with Covid-19,” a City of Kigali official said.

Movements are prohibited between 8 pm and 4 am as was resolved by a cabinet meeting held on December 14.