July 1, 2019

Agakiriro Gisozi: Rwf 7.7billion Businesses Gone With No Insurance


Trustworthy and indepth news stories are more important now than ever.
Support our newsroom by MAKING A CONTRIBUTION HERE
A worker tries to retrieve whatever he could from the intense fire on Saturday evening

Members of two cooperatives are counting huge losses after a fire, for the second time, gutted their timber businesses – leaving them with nothing.

Gisozi Agakiriro, is one of the business centers dotted across Rwanda, where government provided free space for cooperatives engaged in timber and furniture business. They make a variety of industrial, household and office products, often sold at low rates.

For the Agakiriro at Gisozi, a suburb of Kigali, it housed 338 members organised into two cooperatives – ADARWA (Association pour le Développement de l’Artisanat au Rwanda)and APARWA (Association pour la Promotion des Artisans du Rwanda).

On Saturday around 6pm, fire erupted from one of the warehouses and spread quickly – engulfing the whole area in less than an hour.

By the time fire brigade arrived, only minutes later as the area is very easily accessible, there was only much they could do. The fire was so intense.

The owners of the businesses, many of whom had left and there was mainly few workers still around. Few people could be seen trying to retrieve some of the timber products.

According to APARWA General Secretary, Emmanuel Benegusenga, they lost all timber stored in warehouses and under tents, as well as completed or unfinished furnitures. All machines used in their business were completely destroyed.

He told reporters at the scene the next day on Sunday morning that their whole business center was worth Rwf 7.7billion ($8.5m).

However, he said that while other members had insurance, those who were specialised in selling timber did not have cover – yet they consituted the biggest number of the cooperative.

Central and local officials have yet to come out publicly to indicate how they will support these affected cooperatives.

On June 3, the same businesses caught fire, but was put out before it could spread.

By Sunday, the members were seated at what was once their place of work, and now in ashes. The cooperatives employed over 6,000 people who were engaged in different things, including food sellers.

The fire was so powerful it could be seen from kilometers away

Just opposite from this Agakiriro (literally translated as “Wealth Joint”), is a large ADARWA shopping complex owned by four cooperatives including the two which lost their businesses in the Saturday fire.

The cooperatives hosted President Paul Kagame in February 2015 to open the Rwf 2.5billion complex.

It houses hundreds of small private businesses, which pay rent to the cooperatives. The businesses working from the complex employ more than 10,000 people.

By virtual of the complex being located in a thriving Kigali neighborhood, it has been enjoying a huge ready market from the residents.

After this complex was completed, it opened the door for several others which now dot the area – making it one of the fast developing areas of Kigali.

The cooperatives hosted President Paul Kagame on February 2, 2015, who opened the Rwf 2.5billion shopping complex, which now houses businesses employing over 10,000 people

We can't do quality journalism without your support

Perhaps it goes without saying — but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. At a time when newsroom resources and revenue are declining, The Chronicles remains committed to "Serving Your Right To Know The Truth". Stand with us as we document Rwanda's remarkable journey for you and the future generation. Do you value our journalism? We can't do it without you. Show us with your support by CONTRIBUTING HERE.
Email your news TIPS to info@chronicles.rw or WhatsApp +250788351327.
You can also find us on Signal

1,397 Comments

  1. You really make it seem really easy along with your
    presentation but I find this matter to be actually something which
    I believe I might by no means understand. It sort of feels
    too complex and extremely wide for me. I am taking a look ahead
    on your next post, I’ll try to get the hang of it!

  2. Please let me know if you’re looking for a article writer for your site.
    You have some really good posts and I think I would be a good asset.
    If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d really like to write some content for your blog in exchange for a link
    back to mine. Please shoot me an email if interested.
    Cheers!

  3. Aby rozpocząć grę, a następnie wypłacić nagrody zdobyte na automatach i w innych grach kasynowych, musisz skorzystać z jednego z wielu kanałów płatniczych. Metody te różnią się zarówno czasami transakcji, jak również kosztami obsługi oraz limitami wpłat i wypłat. Automaty progresywne to najbardziej rozbudowane kasyno online automaty na rynku. Automaty progresywne często oferują wielomilionowe pule, których wygranie oznacza możliwość zmiany życia. Takich wygranych nie oferują żadne inne kasyno automaty, czy innego rodzaju gra. Kasyno gry automaty progresywne działają w taki sposób, że część stawki z każdego obrotu postawiona przez wszystkich graczy, trafia do jednej puli progresywnej, którą może wygrać dowolny gracz.
    http://www.xn--vh3bo2i7lu7k83w.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=free&wr_id=54595
    Firma FOURNIER powstała w 1868 roku w Hiszpanii. Dziś jest światowym wzorcem w dziedzinie produkcji kart oraz marką rozpoznawalną przez wszystkich fanów gier karcianych. W latach ’90. firma połączyła się z amerykańskim producentem USPC i od tego czasu jest liderem na rynku z ofertą najlepszych marek kart do gry, takich jak Bicycle, Fournier, Kem, Bee lub Aviator. Udział tych marek w światowej produkcji kart przekracza 35%. Rząd przyjął we wtorek projekt ustawy, która wprowadza waloryzację świadczenia Rodzina 500 plus. Ma ono zostać podniesione o 300 złotych od początku 2024 roku. Część rodziców na wyższy przelew może jednak poczekać nieco dłużej. Dresscode 4:02:36рџЏ† PokerStars Sunday Million – Day 2 рџЏ† Nearly $100k to 1st рџ’° $1M GTD рџѓЏ Cards Up | !nick !peace | Poker | 17,6 tys. wyświetlenia |