A fire broke out at Gisozi Agakiriro, a handicraft and carpentry centre in Gasabo District, in the early hours of Sunday, October 25, 2026, marking the eighth reported fire incident at the facility since 2017.
The fire caused losses for traders and workshop operators, although the full extent of the damage had not been established by Sunday morning.
Fire Breaks Out in Timber Storage Area
According to local residents, the fire started at around 2:00 AM in the lower part of the Agakiriro, near the marshland, before spreading to a large timber storage area.
The flames also destroyed other items, including mattresses and machinery, as the fire spread through the affected section.
The Rwanda National Police Fire and Rescue Brigade responded to contain the blaze. By 10:00 AM on Sunday, police vehicles remained at the scene as firefighters extinguished the remaining embers.
Previous Fires Caused Major Losses
Gisozi Agakiriro has experienced several fires over the years, repeatedly causing losses for traders and workshop operators.
In April 2017, a fire broke out at the facility and was attributed to an electrical fault. Another fire occurred in June 2019 in the wood-processing section, with investigations pointing to electrical problems and negligence.
In November 2020, a fire damaged carpentry equipment, reportedly because of faulty electrical wiring. In August 2021, a fire started in the section occupied by the ADARWA Cooperative after sparks from welding landed on nearby mattresses, causing the flames to spread.
Fires Recurred in 2023 and 2025
The facility experienced two more fires in 2023. The first occurred in February and was attributed to faulty electrical wiring, while another broke out in May.
In late May 2025, a fire affected a large section of the carpentry workshops. According to a police report, overcrowding and the improper use of electrical machinery contributed to the incident. The latest outbreak adds to a series of fires that have raised concerns about safety and working conditions at the facility.
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Overcrowding Prompts Relocation Plans
In June 2026, the City of Kigali identified overcrowding as one of the main challenges contributing to recurring problems at Gisozi Agakiriro. Authorities also announced plans to relocate the facility to a larger site in Jabana Sector, Gasabo District.
Fulgence Dusabimana, the City of Kigali Vice Mayor in charge of Infrastructure, said the existing site had become too small to accommodate the growing number of workers and allow for additional infrastructure.
He said: “The current site covers just over seven hectares. We have now secured another plot measuring 19.6 hectares, with an additional 17 hectares adjacent to it that can also be acquired. The reason some of these operations must be relocated is the high number of people working within such a limited space; this makes it impossible to construct proper access roads which is why, when the Police respond to a fire, they can spend an entire day struggling to reach the actual scene.”
New Site Expected to Improve Safety
The planned relocation is intended to provide more space for workshops, access roads and supporting infrastructure, making it easier for emergency services to reach affected areas.
Dusabimana said the limited space at the current facility makes it difficult to improve infrastructure and respond effectively to emergencies.
The latest fire has renewed concerns about the safety of businesses operating at Gisozi Agakiriro as authorities pursue plans to move the centre to a more spacious site.
