They have the right to practice their profession throughout the East African Community, including in Rwanda. But in Bugarama, taxi drivers have to put on the brakes, because they pay no taxes to Rwanda’s treasury.
There are 40 taxi drivers who take passengers from Burundi to Rwanda, particularly to Bugarama, 20 kilometres east of Cibitoke in Rwanda’s Western Province. The Burundian drivers can take their clients, be they Burundian or Rwandan, from Cibitoke and drive them as far as Bugarama. However for the return trip, they are obligated to drive their vehicles empty as far as Ruhwa, on the Rwanda-Burundi border.
According to the Burundian drivers, this decision was made by Rwandan customs officers. The drivers believe the measure is unfair. “We have the right to travel within Rwanda, and even the insurance we have states that explicitly,“ says C.K., a driver. He says before Burundi and Rwanda entered the EAC, the drivers paid 50,000 FRw (FBu 119,000) quarterly for an entry card and 300 FRw per day for parking in Bugarama and then took clients on both sides of the border.
When Rwandan police or security services catch the drivers with another person in their vehicles, drivers must pay a fine of 100,000 FRw on the spot, according to C.K.. The losses for him and his colleagues are enormous. During one trip to Bugarama with 4 clients, he spends 10,000 FBu on 3.5 litres of fuel, because fuel costs 2100 FBu in Cibitoke. “ When we’re working, we need to eat and drink. We earn almost nothing ”, adds M.K. another driver.
Mossi Hakizimana, director of the Rugombo parking lot, accuses the head of the Rwandan customs post in Ruhwa. “He’s the one keeping us from working, to give priority to moto-taxi drivers. He is a member of their association and has his own moto-taxis.”
Hakizimana says his team has already addressed this question with the authorities in Cibitoke. “Our governor promised us to discuss it with the Rwandan authorities. We’ve been waiting a long time, but in vain.”
Hard to get around from Bugarama
When passengers who are in Rwanda want to come to Burundi, they come by moto-taxi or bicycle taxi, because auto taxis are expensive. From Bugarama to Ruhwa, a taxi costs 3000 FRw—over 6000 FBu, more than triple the cost of a trip from Rugombo to Bugarama for a single person.
“I have friends and certain members of my family who live in Rugombo. When I have 1000 [Rwandan] francs, I take a moto as far as Ruhwa. If not, I take a bicycle, which costs 500 francs.” She says when her bags are heavy, she needs to take two motos—one for herself and the other for the bags.
« No chance to work here without paying taxes”
For Rwanda’s moto drivers, the Rwandan authorities are right to refuse to allow the Burundian drivers to pick up passengers.
“We spend 18000 francs per quarter, 50000 francs to renew our drivers’ licences and 75000 francs as an annual tax. That’s why the Burundians, who don’t pay any taxes, can’t take our clients.,” explains one moto driver. He says if he is a day late paying the necessary fees, he risks a fine of 100,000 francs.
The taxi drivers who Iwacu met at the Bugarama parking lot said they had no problems with their Burundian friends. “We have good relations with the Burundian drivers; it doesn’t cause a problem for us if they come and work here,” says Jean d’Amour Ntakirutimana, a Rwandan driver.
Reassurance from the OBR
The authorities of the Burundi Revenue Office at the Ruhwa border post say they are aware of the problem. “If things stay how they are, then we’ll keep the Rwandan drivers from working on Burundian territory as well,” they say.
Anselme Nsabimana, the governor of Cibitoke province, is optimistic on the subject. “We are hoping to organize meetings with the Rwandan authorities to ensure the respect of the free circulation of goods and people, which has been put in place during the regional integration process.”
Attempts to reach Rwandan customs authorities for comment were unsuccessful.
