Passengers and motorists are advised to exercise caution during the event

Passengers and motorists are advised to exercise caution during the event

According to Rwandan police, six people have been injured so far during the campaign for the presidential and parliamentary elections, two of whom died in a fight on June 23, 2024 in Rubavu to promote the RPF-Inkotani candidate.

On Thursday morning, June 27, 2024, a Horizon Express bus accident occurred in Matyazo Cell, Ngoma District, Huye District, Kabeza Village, killing four people.

Rwandan police said three other people were injured in the accident, the cause of which is still unclear, though the driver was said to have been driving poorly on the road.

On the same day, the President of the Republic, while campaigning in Huno, expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and the injured, but asked that efforts be made to prevent a recurrence of his accident, especially in the areas of election time.

President Kagame said, “Try it, nobody can stop accidents but they will reduce them somehow, let’s try as hard as we can and see this happiness and jobs are waiting for us and we will get through it well and reduce these accidents.”

Rwanda police spokesman ACP Boniface Rutikanga warned people to be careful due to heavy traffic and crowds during the campaigning of presidential and vice-candidates across the country.

A police spokesman warned motorists to avoid speeding, overcrowding and drink-driving as the number of trips would increase.

“Foot traffic is still strong in certain areas because of the marketing activities that will be carried out,” he said.

Organization responsible for combating road accidents

Dr Dieudonné Rutagumba of Healthy People of Rwanda/HPR, the campaign director of an organisation that fights road accidents and provides basic assistance, said that during the campaign many people forget to respect road safety.

Dr Rutagumba said: “You talk about the sport but when people celebrate success it is very important. We would ask people to remember that health is like water, don’t drink it, and know how to stay on the road”.

Dr Rutagumba warned motorists not to drink alcohol when arriving home and asked the police to intensify efforts to prevent drink driving.

The HPR leader reminded motorcyclists to wear helmets and not to play vuvuzelas, and motorists not to dance near the driver so as not to hinder him from operating the vehicle properly.

Rwanda is one of the countries with the highest number of accident deaths. According to statistics from the United Nations Health Organization (WHO) in 2018, about 100,000 people die in Rwanda every year due to accidents on the streets.

This means that, out of a population of 14 million, about 4,000 people die in traffic accidents each year.