For more than a decade, Rwanda has operated a left-hand drive vehicle system, aligning with its road use policy. Certain Right-Hand-side vehicles can operate legally in the country, according to a new bill passed by the parliament on January 5. According to the Ministry of Infrastructure, the provision maintains Rwanda’s position as set out in the 2015 revision of the 2002 Presidential Decree regulating traffic police and road traffic, which responded to requests from cross-border traders to allow the use of right-hand drive vehicles to improve operational efficiency and reduce transportation costs. Under the new road traffic bill, exemptions apply to vehicles designed for people with disabilities, heavy-duty trucks carrying loads above 20 tonnes, and cross-border passenger buses. Additional categories include agricultural and construction vehicles, as well as tourist and transit vehicles that operate temporarily within Rwanda. ALSO READ: Was your car converted from right-hand to left-hand drive? During the parliamentary analysis of the bill, the Minister of Infrastructure Jimmy Gasore explained that inclusivity and economic practicality were central to the decision. He noted that vehicles adapted for persons with disabilities are often manufactured in configurations that suit specific physical needs, making it difficult for some drivers to comfortably use standard left hand drive vehicles. “In some cases, a person with a disability may struggle to enter or operate a left-hand drive vehicle because of their condition,” Gasore told the parliament. “Allowing right-hand drive vehicles in these circumstances ensures that their mobility needs are recognised and accommodated.” The minister also outlined the economic rationale behind allowing right hand drive heavy-duty trucks involved in cross-border trade. According to Gasore, the move was informed by concerns raised by Rwandan business operators who rely on regional transport corridors. ALSO READ: Which right-hand drive vehicles are allowed registration in Rwanda? “Most countries along the Central and Northern transport corridors [in East Africa] use right-hand drive vehicles,” he explained. He added that convenience was also a key consideration, noting that cross-border trucks often travel distances of up to 1,500 kilometres outside Rwanda but operate only about 200 kilometres within the country. “For the majority of their journeys, these trucks operate in countries where right-hand drive is the norm,” Gasore said, adding that it makes economic and operational sense to add them as exceptions in Rwanda. On cross-border passenger buses and tourist vehicles, lawmakers highlighted the importance of facilitating regional mobility. Hope Tumukunde Gasatura, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Security, said the exemptions would ease movement across borders while supporting trade and tourism between Rwanda and neighboring countries.
