The law Law Nº 09/2013 of 01/03/2013 establishing the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority gives it among other responsibilities, regulation of Transport sector.

• Transport services are provided throughout the country to meet, in transparency all reasonable demands and needs of all natural persons and organizations;
• Transport service providers have adequate means to finance their activities;
• The interests of users and potential users of the goods and services provided by Transport sector are caterd for so that there is effective competition hence protecting the users from abuses of monopoly positions;
• Private sector participation is facilitated and encouraged to invest in Transport service provision;
•  All transport service providers comply with the laws governing their activities.

To accomplish the above general responsibilities, the entire Transport regulation department is divided into two units, namely Road Transport regulation Unit and Air and Waterways regulation unit. This paper focuses on road transport regulation unit which has among other responsibilities the following:

• Preparing the recommendations for the strategic plan of the road transport;
• Developing the sub sector’s regulatory policy;
• Initiating and taking part in  the elaboration of strategic plan of the sector;
• Working with Traffic Police and other stakeholders to organize the sector;
• Issuance of authorizations and licenses.

 The unit is composed of a number of sections with different duties and responsibilities. These sections are:

1. Passengers Bus Transport Regulation Section

This section is in charge of :

• Monitoring the operator’s practices;

• Managing the database of the licenses and other authorizations;

• Ensuring that the road safety measures are observed;

• Making recommendations on improvement of the road transport safety;

• Making a follow-up on the passenger vehicle inspections;

• Producing periodical statistics;

• Analyzing the authorization and license applications ;

• Contributing to public transport fares setting.

2. Goods Transport Regulation Section

This section is responsible for:

• Establishing effective mechanisms of regulation of the transport of goods;

• Contributing in elaboration of transport of goods policies and other by-laws related to goods transport

• Setting up goods transport routes and manage them;

• Monitoring the management of parking facilities of transport of goods operators

• Monitoring the operator’s practices;

• Creating good environment for goods transport services;

• Working with goods transport  associations and operators

• Establishing effective mechanisms of regulation of the transport of goods;

• Preparing the plan of activities and budget of the section

• Contributing in elaboration of transport law and other by-laws related to transport goods sub-sector;

• Collaborating with urban authorities for transport improvement in the City;

• Monitoring the management of transport parking facilities;

• Creating a good environment for transport of goods services;

• Managing transport of goods database;

• Contributing in fixing goods transport fares;

• Preparing the midterm and annual reports.

3 Driving Schools Section

This section has the duties and responsibilities  as enumerated here bellow: 

• Establish effective mechanisms of regulation of Driving Schools;

• Prepare the plan of activities and budget;

• Contribute in elaboration of policies and other by-laws related to Driving Schools operations;

• Prepare licenses for driving school operators;

• Monitor the operators compliance with the license obligations;

• Monitor the operator’s practices;

• Create good environment of Driving School services;

• Work with Driving Schools associations and operators;

• Manage Driving Schools database;

• Contribute on fixing school fees;

• Prepare the mid-term and annual reports and other work documents.

4. Authorization Issuance Section

The main duties and responsibilities of this section are:

• Receive and prepare licenses/authorizations of transport operators;

• Monitor the conformity to the licenses obligations;

• Manage database of the licenses and other authorizations;

• Produce periodical statistics. 

 Enforcement  in public transport

 Given the law Law Nº 09/2013 of 01/03/2013 establishing the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA), giving the Regulatory Authority the powers to impose sanctions on the regulated public utilites incase of violation of regulations governing their operations;

 The Regulatory Authority ensures that all public transport operators comply with the regulations, license obligations and other laws in place. It is in that context that field inspections are always organized and those found breaching license requirements are warned and later penalized in case they remain adumant