RRA impounds 75 foreign vehicles

KIGALI - Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) has seized at least 75 vehicles with foreign number plates in a major crackdown on non-Rwandan vehicles with no proper paper work. The ongoing operation in the country that kicked off Friday affected vehicles mainly from Burundi, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo. Sources inside Revenue Protection Department (RPD) said that the operation is aimed at a detailed identification of the owners of these vehicles to ascertain if indeed they are the rightful owners. “We want to verify the documents of these vehicles if those using them are the real owners. Some of them are here illegally or stolen,” the source that preferred anonymity said. “Some of these vehicles with foreign number plates are owned by Rwandans illegally while others have not paid taxes for a long time by their owners.” Seth Muhirwa, Coordinator of RPD was hesitant to give more details about the operation. “I cannot give you the details of this operation on phone. You have to come in my office and that has to be Monday,” Muhirwa said when contacted. By press time, some of the vehicle owners had picked them up after clearing with RRA. Vehicles with foreign number plates have of recent increased in number, most of them owned by Rwandans. The reason for this increase is partly attributed to the fact that vehicles in these neighbouring countries are a lot cheaper to purchase compared to Rwanda. Ends