Cabinet Communiqué: Public transport buses to operate at full capacity

Cabinet Communiqué 

On Monday, October 12th 2020, His Excellency Paul KAGAME, the President of the Republic of Rwanda chaired a Cabinet meeting at Urugwiro Village.

1. The Cabinet approved resolutions of the previous meeting held on September 25th 2020.

2. The Cabinet reviewed measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. All existing measures and guidelines shall remain in force with the exception of the following changes that will take effect immediately.

a. Movements are prohibited from 10 PM to 4 AM. 

b. Public transportation will continue with buses operating at full capacity for seated passengers and at 50% for standing passengers. RURA will provide detailed guidelines.

c. Participants in meetings and conferences will not require proof of COVID -19 tests, however, event organizers must comply with health guidelines and must not exceed 50% of venue capacity.

These measures will be reviewed after 15 days upon a health assessment.

Citizens are reminded of the critical importance of complying with health measures including physical distancing, wearing face masks and hand hygiene. Penalties will be applied for non-compliance.

3. The Cabinet approved the following draft laws:

• Draft law governing land in Rwanda.

• Draft law approving ratification of the constitution of the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) adopted in Dakar, Senegal on December 16th 2009.

• Draft law approving the accession of Rwanda to the convention on assistance in the case of a nuclear accident or radiological emergency, adopted in Vienna on September 26th 1986.

• Draft law approving the ratification of eleven bilateral air service agreements (BASAs) signed between the Government of Rwanda and 11 countries: Republic of Chile, Dominican Republic, Republic of Finland, Jamaica, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, State of Kuwait, Malaysia, Republic of Mauritius, The United Republic of Tanzania, United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Zimbabwe.

4. The Cabinet approved the following policies/strategies:

• Rwanda's report on the third universal periodic review (UPR).

• Approval in issuance of licenses to successful applicants authorized to undertake mining and quarrying operations.

• National pharmaceutical product pricing and containment policy.

• Dual clinical practice policy for health professionals and ministerial instructions.

5. The Cabinet approved the following orders:

• Prime Minister's order determining the institution in charge of assessment and collection of taxes and fees on behalf of decentralized entities.

6. The Cabinet approved the regulatory guidelines on cultivation, processing and export of high-value therapeutic crops in Rwanda.

7. The Cabinet approved the agreement for the appointment of Major General Md Jahangir Kabir Talukder as High Commissioner of the People's Republic of Bangladesh to the Republic of Rwanda with residence in Nairobi, Kenya.

8. AoBs:

• The Minister of Gender and Family Promotion informed Cabinet the following:

■ Rwanda's celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child (IDGC) and the launch of the one-year national campaign against child defilement that was observed today, 12th 2020.

■ Rwanda's celebration of the international rural women's day and the launch of the 50 million African women speak networking platform project, scheduled on October 15th 2020.

• The Minister of Environment informed Cabinet about the forest planting season for 2020/21 and celebration of the 45th anniversary of the tree planting day to be held on October 23rd 2020 in Muyira sector, Nyanza district.

Kigali, October 12th 2020

Dr. Edouard Ngirente Prime Minister