Rumonge : two drivers arrested for violating official transport fares

SOS Médias Burundi

Rumonge, November 29, 2025 — Two public transport drivers, Jean-Claude Ndayirukiye and Seremani Amisi, were arrested on Friday and detained at the provincial police station in Rumonge, in the southwestern province of Burunga. They are accused of charging fares higher than the official prices recently set by the government.

According to police sources, Jean-Claude Ndayirukiye allegedly charged passengers 15,000 Burundi francs for a bus departing from Bururi, the main town of Burunga province, while the official fare for the route is 6,000 francs.

As for Seremani Amisi, he reportedly refused to transport passengers to Bujumbura, the country’s commercial capital, at the end of the day, initially forcing them to pay 15,000 francs for a trip whose official fare is 7,000 francs. He was immediately arrested and taken to the police station.

These arrests come just two days after a meeting held on Wednesday between the administration authorities of Rumonge and bus owners, during which the transport operators pledged to strictly adhere to the fares set by the government.

Official fares set by the government

Rumonge – Bururi: 6,000 Big

Rumonge – Bujumbura: 7,000 Bif

Rumonge – Nyanza-Lac: 5,500 Bif

While fuel is now more readily available than last month, several transport vehicle owners say that the advanced state of disrepair of the roads is significantly increasing their repair costs, sometimes forcing them to raise prices.

The two drivers remain in custody pending possible prosecution for violating official fare regulations, while authorities promise to strengthen oversight of the public transport sector in the region.

It should be noted that four months ago, several touts and drivers were arrested in various provinces and cities for protesting the stagnation of official fares, while fuel has been unavailable for nearly five years. They had been sent to a police cell not far from the border with Rwanda, in the north of the country, and detained in conditions deemed inhumane.