Goods worth millions of francs were destroyed after fire gutted a commercial building which houses several businesses on Uswahilini Street in the heart of Rwamagana town.

The fire that started at around 7pm, on Wednesday, was put out by police fire fighters from Kigali after about an hour of waiting.

One businessman, Jean Baptiste Murenzi, fainted upon seeing his shop in flames and was admitted to the district main hospital in critical condition. Murenzi’s store was reduced to ashes.

Murenzi is a renowned businessman in the district and according to residents, he may have lost several millions in the inferno.

According to eye witnesses, the fire started from Murenzi’s shop before spreading to other shops.

"Murenzi tried to enter the burning shop but was stopped by fellow businessmen. He fainted immediately,” said Jean Bosco Rwakagabo, who also lost property in the fire.

Japheth Karegeya, who lost property worth Rwf7 million and had no insurance cover was also left in tears.

"It is unfortunate that I won’t be compensated. I also do not know how I am going to repay the Rwf20 million that I got from a bank,” he said.

Compensation

Although most of the traders affected had insured their businesses, they under declared their goods.

Mohamed Karisa, a trader said traders tend to declare less than what they actually possess so that they pay less in taxes.

"Most traders have the insurance but are worried. If they had genuinely declared their properties they would be sure of full compensation,” he said, while advising traders to end the practice of under declaring their businesses.

Another well placed businessman in the district, Venuste Rwabukamaba said that people lack proper books of accounts.

"Traders do not have proper books of accounts detailing how much they accumulated over time and since capital and profits keep changing, one cannot be fully compensated unless they have proper records,” he said.

Banks say there is little they can do to help the traders.

Ellen Muhongayire, the Manager of Bank of Kigali (BK) Rwamagana branch, said they will follow the guidelines.

"It is sad our clients have made huge losses, but all that we can do is give them one or two months grace period, before they resume servicing their loans. The assumption is that such big businesses were insured,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Police are still investigating the cause of the fire outbreak.

"We are doing thorough investigations to ascertain the cause of the fire. But we can’t rule out electric short circuit…,” said AIP Emanuel Kayigi, the Eastern Region Police Deputy Spokesman.