Nyungwe fire contained after affecting more than 17 hectares in Nyaruguru

By The Inspirer.

A fire that broke out in Nyungwe National Park in Nyaruguru District has been contained after affecting more than 17 hectares of forest, with authorities investigating its cause.

The fire occurred in Muganza Sector, in the part of Nyungwe National Park located in Nyaruguru, prompting a joint response involving the Rwanda National Police, Rwanda Defence Force, local residents and Rwanda Development Board staff working in the park.

CIP Hassan Kamanzi, Rwanda National Police spokesperson for Southern Province, confirmed that the fire had been extinguished and that no injuries were reported.

“The fire has been brought under control. The affected area that was extinguished was nearly 29 hectares. No one was injured in the fire,” Kamanzi told UMUNOTA.COM.

He said authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident and working to identify those responsible.

Preliminary information indicates that the fire may have been linked to people who entered the protected forest to harvest honey. Investigators are also looking into whether other illegal activities, including poaching or charcoal burning, could have contributed to the incident.

“No one has been arrested so far. The first priority was to respond and put out the fire. The next step is to identify and arrest those involved,” Kamanzi said.

He warned that anyone found responsible for activities that caused the fire or involved illegal entry into the protected area would face prosecution.

“If it is established that a resident was involved in such activities, we will arrest them and hand them over to RIB. This is a national asset, and we will not tolerate anyone encroaching on it,” Kamanzi said.

The incident highlights the risks posed by unauthorised activities inside protected forests, particularly those involving fire.

Authorities have repeatedly urged residents to avoid entering protected areas for unauthorised activities such as honey harvesting and to take precautions against actions that could trigger forest fires.

The investigation is continuing as authorities assess the impact of the fire on the affected section of Nyungwe National Park.