As the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) side events kick off this Thursday and the summit officially starting Monday June 20, authorities have alerted the public to brace for road closures over the coming week.
Series of road closures start this Thursday and last until June 25, according to sources.
The summit, officially scheduled from June 20 – 26, is expected to attract over 5000 delegates including dozens of global leaders and VIPs to Rwanda’s capital Kigali.
However, on Thursday the first CHOGM side event — Commonwealth Forum of National Human Rights Institutions — kicked off.
The biennial meeting is focusing on human rights for all in view of the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
With road closures being enforced to ease movement in and around locations that will host delegates and events of the summit, Rwanda National Police (RNP) announced its traffic department will be issuing daily traffic advisories to the public with details of affected roads, and alternative routes for road users.
“Some roads will from time to time be reserved for CHOGM delegates. We urge road users to bear with the changes and to respect traffic rules and regulations,” said the Rwanda Police spokesperson CP John Bosco Kabera.
“Police officers will be on the road to direct motorists.”
Restricted roads
Traffic on a number of roads around hotels and locations to be frequented by the delegates will be restricted from time to time over the next nine days from Thursday June 16, according to sources privy to details of road closures planned for the summit.
READ: CHOGM: Kigali motorists, businesses brace for traffic disruptions
Already, Rwanda Police announced that road axis Marriott Hotel – Ubumwe Grand Hotel – Muhima – Kinamba – Kigali Genocide Memorial will be used by CHOGM delegates this Thursday June 16.
Traffic has been diverted to use alternative routes such as ULK – Beritwari – Gaposho – Gakinjiro – Kinamba – Kacyiru or Utexirwa for those coming from Gisozi.
Those from the City Centre were directed to Onatracom – Gereza – Muhima – Nyabugogo – Poid Lourd – Kanogo- Rwandex.
More closures
More roads will be impacted through June 25, among them is the road Serena Hotel-Sopetrad-Kimihurura-RDB-Giporoso-Cya Mitsingi-Nyandungu-Intare Arena, and road Serena-Sopetrad-Kimihurura-Kigali Convention Centre to Kigali International airport.
Others will include routes to: Gisozi Genocide Memorial, Kigali Arena, Kigali Public Library, and Sonatube-Ntyanza-Gahanga Cricket. There is also routes to Golf in Nyarutarama, among others.
Daily police updates on road closures are expected to indicate to the public the alternative roads.
“The public can follow the daily traffic advisory on the RNP Twitter, website and on various radios and television channels,” Police said.
