Public transport fares and fuel prices have been revised, as the government responds to rising global oil prices due to the conflict in the Middle East. According to the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA), the maximum retail price of gasoline (petrol) has risen from Rwf1,989 per litre to Rwf2,303 per litre. Diesel prices have also gone up from Rwf1,948 to a maximum of Rwf2,205 per litre. The revised fuel prices, inclusive of Value Added Tax (VAT), take effect on April 4, at 6:00 a.m. ALSO READ: Gasoline prices remain unchanged in latest fuel review RURA said the adjustments reflect prevailing international market trends, alongside government measures aimed at mitigating the impact of global fuel price fluctuations on the domestic market. The latest revision follows the previous adjustment announced on March 5, when fuel prices were set at Rwf 1,989 per litre for gasoline and Rwf 1,948 per litre for diesel. ALSO READ: Economists warn of oil shock, urge spending cuts Transport fares In response to the rising fuel costs and other operational expenses, RURA has also revised public transport base fares. In the City of Kigali, the base fare has been set at Rwf 59.28 per passenger per kilometre, while intercity transport base fare now stands at Rwf 41.58 per passenger per kilometre. The new transport tariffs will take effect on April 6, with detailed route-based fares available on RURA’s official website. “The public is encouraged to plan travel efficiently, use public transport, and avoid unnecessary trips in order to reduce fuel consumption,” the regulator said in a statement. RURA added that it will continue to monitor market developments to ensure fair pricing and reliable service delivery. ALSO READ: PM: Rwanda 'not rushing into stringent measures' amid Middle East war The announcement came hours after Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva said the government would implement measures to cushion the economy against the effects of the US/Israel war with Iran. He said, however, the government was considering drastic measures that could cause panic among the general public. “There are already impacts on international trade, particularly in transport costs, which have started to create visible effects on prices in the global market, including petroleum and gas products,” Nsengiyumva said at a press conference held on Friday, April 3. “However, these challenges should not be used as an excuse for poor performance or unjustified price increases by businesses. We must avoid such behavior.” ALSO READ: How could the US-Israel war on Iran affect Rwanda? “We have done our assessment; we have looked at the stocks that we have... and we feel like we should not rush into stringent measures such as rationing, or even reducing the number of days people go to work per week, he said. We are not panicking, and we don’t want people to panic,” the Premier said. He added that fuel prices, which are revised every two months, may soon be revised more frequently depending on the development of the global situation.
