Kagame sends message of support to traders affected by GOICO Plaza fire

By The Inspirer.

President Paul Kagame has sent a message of condolence and encouragement to residents and traders in Musanze District following a fire that gutted GOICO Plaza on Saturday, October 10, destroying goods worth billions of Rwandan francs.

Northern Province Governor Mugabowagahunde Maurice told Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA) on Monday, October 12, that the President had sent a message of support to those affected.

“We received a message of condolence and encouragement from His Excellency the President of the Republic. We thank him for comforting us and expressing his sympathy to the people of the Northern Province,” he said.

Mugabowagahunde added that the President had urged residents not to lose hope, reminding them that GOICO Plaza had been established through collective effort and that they could achieve even more by working together.

“The key message he sent us was to remain strong and remember that GOICO was achieved through cooperation and partnership, and that much more can be accomplished through the same spirit,” the governor said.

GOICO Plaza is a major commercial building in the Northern Province that housed more than 2,000 traders.

The fire broke out on Saturday evening, affecting a large part of the building, from the roof down to the first floor. Authorities said the ground floor sustained comparatively less damage.

Firefighters from the Rwanda National Police, the Rwanda Defence Force and local residents worked together to extinguish the blaze, which was brought under control on Sunday morning.

The cause of the fire remains unclear. No deaths were reported, but two people sustained minor injuries and 15 others experienced psychological distress following the incident.

Musanze District authorities said most of those taken to hospital after experiencing psychological distress had been discharged by Sunday.

On Sunday, Mugabowagahunde said a preliminary assessment put the value of goods destroyed at Rwf30 billion, while the commercial building itself was estimated to be worth Rwf17 billion.

“As local authorities, our responsibility is to listen to traders, assess the damage and establish what each needs, whether they had large or small businesses, and whether or not they had insurance,” he said.

The Government has expressed sympathy for residents and traders affected by the fire. In a statement issued on Sunday, the Ministry of Local Government said the Government would provide support to repair the building.