Minister Sebahizi Assures Fuel Price Hike Will Not Affect Market Goods

Kigali, Rwanda - The recent increase in petroleum product prices is not expected to impact the prices of ordinary goods in Rwanda, according to Minister of Trade and Industry, Sebahizi Prudence.

The Regulatory Authority (RURA) recently announced a rise in fuel prices, with gasoline now at Rwf 1,989 per liter and diesel at Rwf 1,900 per liter, reflecting a 5% increase.

Minister Sebahizi emphasized that this modest increase will not translate into higher market prices for goods.

“We do not expect any change in commodity prices because this 5% increase in the price of a liter of diesel, when you put it as a percentage of the price of goods, is very small. A liter of diesel can carry a ton of goods for kilometers, so there is no way to apply this change to goods,” he said.

He further cautioned traders against using the fuel price rise as a pretext to increase goods arbitrarily, noting that basic price calculations would prevent unjustified hikes.

“Traders should do their calculations but should not use them as a basis for raising prices in an unclear way. If consumers report anomalies, we can verify and make the necessary adjustments,” Sebahizi added.

Looking ahead, the minister noted that even if prices rise next month, they are likely to stabilize or decrease during the harvest season, when goods will become more abundant in markets.

Ambassador Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye, Minister of State in the Ministry of Infrastructure, said public transport fares in Kigali City are unlikely to change significantly. However, provincial transport fares may be adjusted following extensive studies.

The government is also encouraging the adoption of electric vehicles as a way to reduce dependency on petroleum.

“We have removed taxes on electric cars and motorbikes and invested in projects such as Kivu Gas, which can be used for cooking and in large vehicles. Within about two years, these alternatives will help reduce our reliance on oil,” Uwihanganye said.

The last fuel price adjustment occurred on July 1, 2025, marking this as the second increase this year.