Rwanda National Police (RNP) showed to the media a driver, who was arrested smuggling people from Kigali to Bugesera District. Theophile Kubwimana was intercepted in Gahanga Sector, Kicukiro District with four passengers on board.
Kubwimana was using a movement permit, which was only issued to him to travel to Rulindo and Gakenke districts to construct telecom towers.
City of Kigali is currently under lockdown with movements only allowed on medical, shopping and other essential and emergency activities.
“I had a movement permit obtained through the telecommunication company I work, to facilitate me move easily to construct towers. I was arrested yesterday (Friday) in Kicukiro District going to Bugesera with passengers in my vehicle. I violated the government directives on Covid-19 prevent, I ask for forgiveness,” said Kubwimana.
Ramadhan Sibomana is one of the passengers, whom Kubwimana was sneaking out of Kigali.
“I was accompanying my brothers, who were going to Bugesera to sell their piece of land. The land was to be sold to a telecom company to build a tower. The driver made us believe that he had a movoment permit which also caters for other people in his vehicle,” Sibomana argued.
RNP spokesperson, Commissioner of Police (CP) John Bosco Kabera said that since the start of the lockdown in City of Kigali and eight other districts, as well as restricted movements in other districts of the country, scores have been arrested for using movement permits contrary to the original intended purpose.
“Kubwimana works for a company that constructs telecom towers and his movement permit allowed him only to travel to Rulindo and Gakenke between July 22 and July 27. He, however, used the permit to smuggle people to Bugesera district,” CP Kabera.
He reminded that everyone in the vehicle must apply and acquire a movement permit.
CP Kabera further warned people, who feign sickness illness so as to attain movement clearance to engage in prohibited activities
He further explained that anyone, who uses the permit contrary to the original purpose, loses the permit and urged companies to follow up on their employees to ensure that they are not used in prohibited acts. (End)