Traders face Billions in losses after Gisozi Market fire

A fire that broke out at Gisozi Artisan Centre in Kigali in the early hours of Sunday, October 25, destroyed numerous businesses, workshops and warehouses, leaving traders facing potentially billions of Rwandan francs in losses.

The blaze started at around 2 a.m. in an area within the ADARWA Cooperative premises, affecting businesses involved in carpentry, handicrafts, construction materials and the storage of timber and other goods.

Firefighters from the Rwanda National Police Fire and Rescue Brigade responded to the scene, battling the flames and preventing the fire from spreading further.

By Sunday morning, the main flames had been extinguished, although smoke continued rising from some sections as emergency teams worked to eliminate remaining hotspots.

According to reports, the fire affected a substantial section of the centre, which has experienced repeated fire incidents over the years.

Authorities had not publicly established the cause of the latest blaze or announced an official valuation of the damage.

One trader, who requested anonymity, estimated his losses at approximately Rwf1.5 billion after fire destroyed his construction materials shop and two warehouses.

He said the full extent of the damage remained difficult to establish while emergency operations continued.

Eric Shema, another trader operating in the area, said he had lost goods worth more than Rwf50 million, in addition to stock stored in an adjoining warehouse.

Shema said he received a telephone call about the fire during the night and rushed to the centre, only to find the flames too intense for him to enter and salvage his merchandise.

He expressed gratitude to the authorities and firefighters for their intervention, saying their efforts helped prevent the blaze from causing even greater destruction.

Meanwhile, Maniraguha Eugene, a construction materials trader whose shop escaped the flames, said he was relieved to have saved his business but remained concerned about his colleagues who had lost their livelihoods.

The latest incident has renewed concerns over fire safety at the centre, where timber, construction materials, paints and other potentially combustible products are stored and handled.

The Gisozi artisan centre has experienced eight fire incidents since 2017, highlighting persistent concerns about the protection of businesses and property.

The latest blaze also revives questions about plans to relocate some activities from the centre.

In July 2025, the City of Kigali announced plans to move traders and artisans to more suitable facilities, citing safety concerns and the need to separate storage areas from production activities.

Masoro and the Kigali Special Economic Zone have featured in discussions about relocation.

However, the implementation timeline and final arrangements remain unclear.

As investigations and damage assessments continue, traders are calling for lasting measures to prevent further fires and protect their investments.

The official cause of Sunday’s fire and the total financial losses are yet to be confirmed.