Fire guts four upper floors of GOICO Plaza, the largest market building in Northern Province, leaving about 2,000 traders counting losses
Traders in Musanze District are counting heavy losses after a fire ripped through GOICO Plaza, the district’s main market, destroying goods estimated at Rwf30 billion, according to preliminary figures released by Northern Province Governor Maurice Mugabowagahunde.
The fire broke out at around 4pm on Saturday, October 10, and engulfed most of the multi-storey building owned by Gorilla Investment Company (GOICO). By the time it was put out on Sunday evening, four of the plaza’s upper floors had been completely burnt out.
A blaze that spread quickly
GOICO Plaza is the largest market building in Northern Province and a key commercial hub for Musanze and the surrounding area. Around 2,000 traders operated from the building, selling a wide range of goods to customers from across the region.
The intensity of the fire meant that only the ground floor was spared. The floors above it, where much of the stock was kept, were left gutted, wiping out merchandise that many traders depended on for their daily livelihoods.
Speaking to journalists on Sunday evening after the fire had been extinguished, Governor Mugabowagahunde said the lower part of the structure had survived the flames.
“Part of the building’s lower structure was not affected by the fire, and we are thankful that no lives were lost during the incident,” he said.
Counting the cost
According to the governor, early estimates put the value of goods lost in the fire at Rwf30 billion. He cautioned, however, that the figure is provisional and could change once investigations are concluded.
“Preliminary data collected indicate that there were goods worth Rwf30 billion in the market. However, the exact value will be established and announced once the probe into the incident is complete,” Mugabowagahunde said.
In addition to the stock destroyed, the governor said the commercial building itself is valued at Rwf17 billion. Taken together, the figures show the scale of the loss, both for the traders whose merchandise went up in flames and for the owners of the property.
Authorities have not yet announced the cause of the fire. The final assessment of the damage is expected to be released after the ongoing probe is completed.
No lives lost
Despite the scale of the destruction, officials said no one was killed in the incident. The Ministry of Local Government said two people suffered minor injuries, while 15 others were treated for psychological shock.
For many traders, the relief that everyone escaped alive was mixed with distress as they watched their businesses and savings disappear in the flames over the course of the weekend.
Government pledges support
The Government of Rwanda has extended its condolences to the traders and members of the private sector in Musanze who were affected by the fire.
On Sunday, government officials consoled the affected traders and pledged to support efforts to repair the market, offering some hope to the business community that the plaza can eventually be restored.
The details of the support, including how it will be delivered and when repair work will begin, have not yet been made public.
Traders face an uncertain future
With most of the building out of use, the immediate concern for the roughly 2,000 traders is how and where they will resume business. Many lost their entire stock, and the closure of the market’s upper floors means a large share of them have no premises from which to trade.
The impact is likely to be felt beyond the traders themselves. As the largest market building in the province, GOICO Plaza supplied goods to consumers and smaller businesses across Musanze and neighbouring areas, meaning its disruption could affect supply and commerce in the wider region.
What happens next
Officials say the exact value of the losses will be confirmed once investigations are complete. Until then, traders, the building’s owners and local authorities are expected to continue assessing the damage and planning the way forward for one of Northern Province’s most important commercial centres.
