MUSANZE, Rwanda, Oct 11, 2026 — The Rwandan government has pledged to support efforts to rebuild Goico Plaza in Musanze District, Northern Province, after a major fire destroyed shops, merchandise and other property in the five-storey commercial building.
The fire broke out on Saturday afternoon, 10 October, and spread across several floors, affecting businesses, including premises occupied by bank branches.
Firefighting operations were still underway on Sunday as authorities worked to extinguish the blaze. The cause of the fire and the full extent of the damage remain unknown.
The government’s commitment to support the rebuilding of the market offers hope to thousands of traders affected by the disaster, many of whom lost their entire stock and sources of income.
Tugengwanayo Théonas, president of the Private Sector Federation in Northern Province, told Rwanda Broadcasting Agency that Goico Plaza had 90 shareholders and housed more than 2,000 traders. He said approximately 12,000 people visited the market daily.
The building was constructed at a cost of four billion Rwandan francs
Several traders have reported substantial financial losses following the fire.
Gatera David, a trader who dealt in radio and television equipment, said his shop was worth approximately 120 million Rwandan francs and that all his merchandise had been destroyed.
“I have suffered a huge loss. My shop, which was worth around 120 million Rwandan francs, dealt in radio and television equipment. It was a very large and expensive shop, and everything has been destroyed,” he said.
Gatera said the fire started on the fifth floor at around 3 p.m., while technicians were carrying out welding work as part of renovations to smaller shops.
According to his account, sparks from the welding landed on fabric belonging to people sewing clothes, triggering the fire.
He said traders initially thought the incident was minor, but the flames spread rapidly through the building before reaching their floor.
“We were on the second floor and initially thought it was a minor incident. But the fire spread to the fourth floor, then the third, before reaching our floor. We could not save anything,” he said.
Another trader, Iraguha Jean Luc, said the fire destroyed his clothing and footwear businesses, wiping out investments he had made after recently getting married.
Iraguha, who married on 6 August, operated a wholesale clothing and footwear shop and another business selling second-hand clothes and shoes.
“I have suffered a devastating loss. I recently got married, and I had invested the money I had left into my business, hoping to build a better future for myself. Unfortunately, this is what has happened to us,” he said.
He estimated the value of his destroyed merchandise at 12 million Rwandan francs, adding that only the walls of his business premises remained.
Musanze District Mayor urged traders to remain patient while firefighting operations continued and warned them against entering the building to retrieve any belongings that might have survived.
The mayor said visible sparks and other hazards remained at the scene, posing risks to anyone attempting to enter the building.
“Despite the grief we are experiencing during this difficult time, there is one thing we are grateful for: no lives were lost. Material possessions can be replaced,” the mayor said.
The mayor reiterated that traders should avoid putting themselves in danger while emergency teams continued their operations.
With more than 2,000 traders operating from Goico Plaza and thousands of people visiting the market daily, the fire has disrupted a major commercial centre in Musanze District.
The government’s pledge to support reconstruction is expected to provide a basis for restoring the market, although details of the rebuilding plan, including the timeline and the nature of assistance for affected traders, have yet to be established.
Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the fire or assessed the total value of the losses.
Despite the scale of the destruction, no deaths had been reported as of Sunday.
