The Plenary Sitting of the Senate on July 25, 2023, was satisfied by the oral explanations of the Minister of Infrastructure, Dr. Ernest Nsabimana, who represented the Prime Minister, on the measures put in place in preventing and combatting roads accidents.

Minister Dr. Nsabimana told the Plenary Sittingof the Senate that the Government is aware of the challenges and has put measures in place to tackle everything that causes road accidents.

He pointed out that a draft law governing roads use is nearing completion. Among other initiatives, he stated that Rwf 102 billion is required to address the issue of road black spots. Besides some works, including as the installation of crash barriers and roads signage, are already underway.

The Committee on Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, and Security conducted the oversight to assess the measures to prevent and eradicate road accidents from 14 to 22 November 2022, and it tabled the report to Plenary Sitting of the Senate on December 19, 2022, which showed that according to the figures provided by the National Police, the country registered 4,160 accidents in 2020 which increased twofold to 8,639 in 2021, and 8,660 in 2022. These accidents led to hundreds of fatalities; with 629 deaths recorded in 2020, 655 in 2021, and while 687 people have so far lost their lives in 2022.

Among the issues, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Security’s report identified the causes of the persistence of accidents including the bad condition of the roads, and the vehicles that are not inspected among others.