Musanze Fire Destroyed Goods Worth an Estimated Rwf30 Billion, Governor Says
A preliminary assessment put the value of goods destroyed in the GOICO Plaza fire in Musanze at Rwf30 billion, The New Times reported on 12 October 2026. Northern Province Governor Maurice Mugabowagahunde announced the estimate; assessment work is continuing and the final figure is subject to verification.
The fire, on 10 October, began on the roof of the five-storey complex that houses Musanze's main market and spread through several floors; firefighting continued for hours. Authorities confirmed there were no deaths, with two people slightly injured and 15 treated for psychological shock. The government has condoled with traders and pledged support for repairing the market and helping businesses restart.
The New Times also published labour force figures the same day: employment in Rwanda rose from about 4.58 million in May 2025 to 4.71 million in May 2026, with transport and storage, construction and financial services among the biggest drivers of non-farm job growth. The market's more than 2,000 traders are part of that non-farm economy, and the fire's effect on local livelihoods will play out in the support arrangements that follow.
The cause of the fire has not been announced. Loss registration by traders, insurance claims and the timetable for rebuilding the market are the questions local media and the trading community will follow next, with provincial and district authorities saying they will keep publishing progress updates.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：卢旺达基加利一处市场的水果摊位（资料图）。摄影：Jenny Paul，CC BY-SA 4.0，来源：Wikimedia Commons
