Residents of Nyagatare District have been urged to secure their house roofs and take other precautionary measures to prevent disasters caused by heavy rains and strong winds. So far, 400 house roofs have been secured across the district, including 200 in Rwimiyaga Sector.
Minister Calls for Early Disaster Prevention
The call was made by the Minister of Local Government, Habimana Dominique, on August 29, 2026, during a community work activity known as Umuganda held in Rwimiyaga Cell, Rwimiyaga Sector.
The activity focused on securing house roofs, clearing roads and cleaning drainage channels to reduce the risk of disasters during the rainy season.
Minister Habimana urged residents who had not yet secured their roofs to take action before the rains become heavy. “We encourage those who have not yet secured their roofs to do so as soon as possible. Clearing drainage channels near your homes is also important.”
He also warned residents about the dangers of lightning during rainfall. He advised people to avoid walking barefoot, sheltering under trees and engaging in activities that could expose them to lightning.
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Residents Welcome the Guidance
Residents who participated in the Umuganda said the instructions would help them protect their homes and families.
Nshimiyimana Musa, a resident of Rwimiyaga Cell, said local leaders had shown them how to properly secure house roofs. “Today, the leaders came to show us how to properly secure our house roofs so that they become strong. We carefully observed what they showed us, and we are now going to continue the work at our homes so that we can complete it before the rainy season.”
He also encouraged residents to follow safety advice during rainfall, particularly regarding lightning. Uwamahoro Claudine said preventing disasters requires residents to take action before problems occur. “No one wants to experience disasters. That is why we must listen to the advice we are given and secure our house roofs properly and on time.”
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Residents Pledge to Continue the Work
The residents pledged to continue securing roofs at their homes and following instructions from local authorities.
Authorities are encouraging communities to take preventive measures early because strong winds and heavy rainfall can cause significant damage to houses, schools, roads and agricultural activities.
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Recent Rainfall Has Already Caused Damage
Rainfall recorded in August destroyed three houses, while three residents in Tabagwe Sector were struck by lightning.
The incidents were reportedly linked to unsafe practices during rainfall, including listening to the radio and walking barefoot.
The authorities are therefore urging residents to take lightning warnings seriously and avoid unnecessary risks whenever storms occur.
Nyagatare Frequently Experiences Strong Winds
Nyagatare District is particularly vulnerable to disasters caused by strong winds, partly because much of the district is relatively flat.
Over the past three years, more than 100 houses have lost their roofs, while over 10 classrooms have also had their roofs blown off.
In addition, crops covering more than 50 hectares have been damaged.
The ongoing roof-securing campaign is therefore intended to help residents prepare before the rainy season intensifies and reduce the impact of weather-related disasters on homes, schools and livelihoods.
