Preliminary investigations into the recent fire outbreak in Muhanga prison show that the fire was caused by electric fault.

The Southern Region Police spokesperson, Chief Superintendent Hubert Gashagaza, told The New Times on Thursday that investigations are not yet fully conclusive on the cause of the fires.

"But what we have gathered so far indicates the fire was a result of an electrical fault,” CSP Gashagaza added.

Investigations will continue until the real cause is established, he observed.

The fire broke out at Muhanga prison ten days ago, completely destroying a men’s block and prompting prison officials to relocate inmates to other correctional facilities in the Southern Province.

Following the incident, Prison officials decided to transfer the inmates to nearby prisons - the Huye-based Butare prison and Mpanga prison in Nyanza District.

Meanwhile the Rwanda Correctional Services (RCS), says efforts to make a comprehensive inventory of the loss is ongoing.

RCS Spokesperson Anastase Nabahire said RCS is garnering financial means to kick-start activities to rebuild the destroyed building to allow inmates back.

Formerly known as Gitarama Prison, the Muhanga-based correctional facility was established in 1973. At the time, it had a capacity to accommodate 750 inmates.

After the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, the prison was expanded to accommodate more inmates, particularly Genocide convicts. Today it has capacity to accommodate at least 6,000 inmates, according to RCS figures.

The Muhanga prison fire incident was the first case of fire gutting a correctional facility in the country. Fires in other public buildings, shops and institutions such as schools have been recorded previously. Many have been attributed to electrical faults and arson.

No life was lost in the prison fire.