The Ministry in Charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA) has urged Rwandans to embrace building insurance to mitigate losses from the increasing number of fire incidents across the country.

According to MINEMA, most fires in residential areas are caused by electrical short circuits, exploding phone or solar panel batteries, and, to a lesser extent, cooking gas.

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Official figures indicate that 228 houses were damaged by fire in 2023 alone. Between June and August 2024, another 87 houses were destroyed, with many owners lacking insurance coverage.

Major General (Rtd) Albert Murasira, the Minister of Emergency Management, emphasized that the government cannot bear the full financial burden of disaster relief, advocating for increased insurance uptake to reduce vulnerability.

"The government cannot, with its budget, cover or support every citizen affected by disasters. We know that insurance coverage is still low, and we need to penetrate the market.

This means all citizens should at least afford a small contribution, similar to Mutuelle de Sante, so that insurance companies can step in during incidents like these," Murasira says.

Limited resources and challenges

MINEMA has raised concerns about limited resources, including insufficient firefighting equipment, personnel, and public awareness about fire risks and safety measures.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, Police Spokesperson for the Western Region, cites urbanisation and informal settlements as key obstacles to fire response efforts.

"Informal settlements make it difficult to respond effectively to fire outbreaks. Densely built houses easily spread fire to neighboring structures, and the lack of access roads further complicates firefighting operations," Karekezi explained.

Public awareness gap

Innocent Habiyaremye (not his real name), a building owner in Rubavu town, admitted his property insurance lapsed in 2019 and was not renewed despite knowing its benefits.

"A lot of people do not understand the importance of property insurance due to a lack of awareness and mobilisation," he said. "The insurance company I work with did not notify me about renewing my contract, but I plan to renew it next year."

Habiyaremye added that a typical annual premium is affordable, estimating that someone with property worth Rwf 20,000,000 could pay around Rwf 64,000 annually.

"The prices are reasonable given the protection insurance offers during fire incidents," he noted. "However, there should be better collaboration among insurers instead of unhealthy competition."

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MINEMA officials continue to emphasize the need for public awareness and collaboration among stakeholders to address fire risks and promote building insurance as a reliable solution for mitigating losses.