At least 25 people were arrested on May 7, after they were intercepted traveling to the Northern Province from City of Kigali. Their actions are contrary to the government directives on preventing the spread of noval Coronavirus, which partly prohibits people from going beyond provices and City of Kigali, where they are. Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera, Rwanda National Police (RNP) spokesperson, said the suspects were traveling in two separate buses when they were stopped in Kanyinya, Nyarugenge District. “The suspects include the drivers of the two coasters. Some of their passengers had breached the government directives to get to Kigali from varied districts in the Eastern and Southern provinces, while others were from Kigali,” CP Kabera said. All the suspects boarded the two buses from Nyabugogo bus terminal. Marie Rose Mukantabana, one of the arrested passengers said that she was going to Musanze District. “I had travel to Kigali from Bugesera trying to find a way to go to Musanze. I knew that what I was doing is illegal but I hoped that I would make it there without being detected or arrested,” said Mukantabana. “The pandemic is real, I regret my unlawful actions because I exposed my life at risk of contracting COVID-19 and infecting others,” added Mukantabana. Another passenger, Laurent Manirakiza said that he was going to Gakenke District for business purposes. Most of those interviewed said that they were going to Gakenke and Musanze districts. RNP spokesperson, CP Kabera observed that some people undermine the risks they put themselves and their families into, and putting lives of others at high risk of infecting them with the virus. “They boarded the buses in Nyabugogo and lied to the Police at different checks, about where they were going. The pandemic is real and still a big problem in our midst,” said CP Kabera. He warned against breaching the government measures put in place to contain and prevent the spread of the pandemic, adding that anyone caught will face detention, fines and impounding of their automobiles, among others.
