Goods worth more than Rwf30 billion were destroyed when a fire engulfed GOICO Plaza in Musanze District, according to preliminary figures released by Northern Province Governor Mugabowagahunde Maurice.
The blaze broke out at the five-storey commercial building on Saturday, October 10, at around 4 p.m., starting on the upper floor before spreading to other levels.
Governor Mugabowagahunde told Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA) that the building itself was valued at Rwf17 billion, separate from the goods destroyed in the fire.
“Overall, the building itself is valued at Rwf17 billion, while our preliminary figures indicate that it contained goods worth more than Rwf30 billion,” he said.
Authorities are still assessing the extent of the damage and investigating what caused the fire. The final value of the losses has not yet been established.
By Sunday morning, the Rwanda National Police Fire and Rescue Brigade was still working to extinguish the blaze, as some sections of the building remained affected.
The Ministry of Local Government (MINALOC) said the government had expressed sympathy to traders, business owners and others affected by the incident. It pledged to work with the relevant institutions to support the restoration of the building and enable businesses to resume operations.
Musanze District authorities said no deaths had been reported, although 17 people were taken to hospital following the incident. Two sustained minor injuries, while 15 experienced distress and required medical attention.
GOICO Plaza was built in 2017 by Gorilla Investment Company, which brings together 89 private investors from Musanze District. Construction of the building cost approximately Rwf7.5 billion.
The commercial centre accommodates more than 1,550 traders and attracts an estimated 25,000 visitors daily, making it an important business hub in the district.
Although the exact cause of the fire remains unknown, some reports suggest it may have been linked to metal-welding activities inside the building. Investigations are ongoing.
