Parfait Rwaka, a 47-year-old member of Rwanda’s deaf community who has been driving for 17 years using a licence obtained from Uganda, is calling for reforms to allow people with hearing impairments to legally obtain driving licences in Rwanda.

"My licence expires every five years, which requires me to travel to Uganda to renew it, causing costly and time-consuming challenges,” he says.

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His passion for driving began at a young age. Inspired by family members who owned cars, Rwaka said he developed a strong interest in becoming a driver.

"I started my journey to become a driver because I was interested in driving from a young age,” he narrates, noting that seeing his relatives drive motivated him to pursue the same path.

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Rwaka began learning how to drive in 2000 in Uganda.

"When I first thought about getting my driving licence, I believed I could make it. I studied traffic rules, practised driving and stayed focused until I passed the test,” he said, adding that he passed the driving test on his first attempt.

Rwaka was not born deaf. He lost his hearing at the age of seven, but says the disability has not prevented him from safely operating a vehicle. "When I was learning to drive, my father was already a driver and owned a car, so learning to drive was easy for me.”

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Over the years, he says he has not faced significant challenges related to his hearing impairment while driving.

However, he reveals that several hearing-impaired Rwandans currently rely on licences issued in neighbouring countries such as Uganda and the DR Congo because they are unable to acquire a Rwandan driving permit.

According to him, driving depends largely on visual awareness. "Side mirrors help me see vehicles and any potential danger behind and around me,” he said.

Although Rwanda admits that communicating with traffic police remains a challenge, he believes that the absence of a legal framework allowing deaf people to obtain driving licences limits them for accessing opportunities.

"The government is not fully aware that deaf people can drive safely,” he argues, pointing out that in several countries in the region, including Uganda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, deaf people are allowed to obtain driving licences and operate vehicles like other citizens.

Because Rwanda does not yet provide that opportunity, some deaf people travel abroad to obtain permits, a process he says is costly. "Travelling to Uganda to get a permit is expensive and a waste of money.”

Advocacy groups call for legal reform

Rwaka observes that some members of the deaf community know how to drive but cannot obtain licences, making it difficult for them to secure employment as drivers. Some even own vehicles but cannot legally drive them.

Advocacy efforts to address the issue have been ongoing for years. The Rwanda National Union of the Deaf, working with the National Union of Disability Organisations of Rwanda, has engaged authorities to push for inclusive policies that would allow deaf people to take driving tests and obtain licences.

At different times, authorities have reportedly indicated that they were awaiting revisions to traffic laws to accommodate deaf drivers, though no amendments have yet been implemented.

Rwaka believes that allowing deaf people to obtain driving permits in Rwanda would help improve livelihoods and create employment opportunities for many in the community.

The Umbrella of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities in the Fight against HIV/AIDS and for Health Promotion (UPHLS) has also weighed in on the matter.

Its Executive Director, François Xavier Karangwa, said the current traffic police law states that a person seeking a driving licence must have all body parts functioning.

"In neighbouring countries such as Tanzania, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, deaf people are able to obtain driving licences. But in Rwanda, they are not allowed to hold one,” he said.

Karangwa noted that the issue remains under advocacy but expressed optimism that, with technological advancements and improved road safety systems, lawmakers will continue to review the matter.

There is no inherent risk or problem in allowing deaf individuals to drive, as other countries have successfully implemented inclusive policies, according to the National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPD).

An official at the NCPD said discussions are currently underway with relevant authorities to amend the existing law. Although the process has started, no final decision has yet been reached to formally inform the public.

"We would like to assure the deaf community that noticeable progress has been made. We hope the process will move forward smoothly without any challenges. However, at this stage, we cannot provide a specific timeline.”

Legislation remains a challenge

During an interview with The New Times, the spokesperson for Rwanda National Police, ACP Boniface Rutikanga, said the issue is governed by the existing regulations.

"We simply implement the law. If a new law with such provisions is established, we will implement it as it is,” he said.

Citing the existing law, the police spokesperson said that a national driving licence may be refused or withheld from a person affected by the loss or a significant bilateral decrease of hearing. The suspension of a driving licence may be based on a report issued by a recognised medical doctor.

When a person who has suffered from the illness is referred to presents a certificate issued by a recognised medical doctor attesting that the illness has been cured or corrected, that person shall be allowed to take a driving test or have his or her driving licence reinstated if it had been suspended.

In other words, this means that hearing ability is considered part of the medical requirements for driving, and authorities can deny or suspend a driving licence if someone has serious hearing loss, but the decision must be based on a medical assessment.