Two years ago, the government introduced a framework to professionalise public transport drivers, equipping them with skills in languages, safety, e-mobility, and passengers’ rights. However, enforcement has been slow. ALSO READ: Public transport: Extra qualifications to be required of drivers The reforms stem from the 2023 law governing land and waterways transport. Article 32 of the law states that any driver who wishes to carry out public transport must hold a professional certificate. In 2024, Rwanda Association of Passenger Transporters (ATPR), in collaboration with the Rwanda TVET Board (RTB), launched a training institution to issue the required certification. So far, 450 drivers have graduated and 250 are currently enrolled. Despite some progress made, officials say enforcement of the law remains non-existent, as authorities have yet to require professional certificates from drivers, and awareness of the requirement is still low. In total, there are more than 4,000 public transport drivers working in different parts of the country. Hussein Nziza, Executive Secretary at ATPR, said enforcement needs to improve. “The enforcement of the law is still low,” he admitted. “We want just as the police ask for a permit, they should also ask for a certificate of professional training.” He added that the gap lies in implementation rather than policy. “Some do not attend the training because they feel they will not be penalised,” he added. Sosthene Kazima, a specialist at RTB, said a standard driver’s licence is no longer enough for today’s transport demands. “Having a driver’s license is one thing, but being a transport professional is another,” he said. “We integrated this program into the ATPR through our industrial-based training framework.” For some drivers, the training has made a difference. Alaphati Niyomugabo from Kicukiro District completed the three-month course, which covers nine modules including languages, health and safety, and passenger protection. “I used to think driving was just about moving a vehicle from point A to point B,” he said, noting that he now understands how to save his earnings and handle basic mechanical repairs. However, he observed that the market does not yet prioritise certified drivers. Marceline Mutuyimana, a 2025 graduate and mother of two, also saw the training as necessary in a changing industry. “I knew that the industry was changing,” she said. Gender imbalance remains a concern in the training too. Of all students trained so far, only five are women. Nziza said ATPR has introduced tuition discounts to encourage more female applicants. Mutuyimana, who also took extra courses on electric buses, urged more women to join.
