In its bid to expand and spread its tentacles, Taxi App, Uber has recently expressed its interest in extending operations to Rwanda. The Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA) while keeping mum on the full details disclosed that they have been approached by Uber this year with the motive of expanding operations into their country.
Buttressing this, reports also have it that Uber is seriously looking into establishing business in two other East African Countries before the end of the year. However, Uber is not the only Taxi company looking to expand as RURA disclosed that they have quite a few bodies approaching with enquires about an operating license.
“Well, Uber has approached Rwanda and as you know, this is a regulated service… they came to us and we gave them the [list of] requirements needed to get a license and they are yet to come and fulfill the requirements and get the license. Once they come and we check that whatever we require is complete then definitely we’ll give them a licence and they start operating,” A spokesman, Asaba said.
Recognising the benefits of competition in driving up the quality of service and improving on the costs to create the perfect experience, RURA has been quite welcoming towards Ridesharing apps.
“We know their essence and know that we need them (ridersharing apps),” he said, adding that “In taxi cabs we have Yego Cab, which was licensed recently. It has license for both motorcycles and taxi cabs.”
However, the Rwandan Transport scene is well regulated and to obtain a license, there are quite a few quotas that must be met.
One of such, Asaba explained was having the app tested by a regulator.
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“It has to be tested to ascertain whether once it starts operating it won’t have any functional problems. There is a whole set of things that RURA will look at before issuing a license,” he explained.
“For instance, there is this app that might not be well calibrated and maybe you get the services for four kilometres and they charge you for 10 kilometers. I don’t think you would be happy with the service. We also need to protect the service to make sure they are paid according to the service they are offering.”
The pulse of the market has been felt and mood is generally upbeat about this initiative. Customers that have used Uber before are quite excited to welcome it into Rwanda and it seems RURA also shares this sentiment.
Uber currently only operates in 3 countries in East Africa namely — Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
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