The Ministry in charge of Emergency Management is working on plans to locally produce lightning rods in a bid to increase their availability and affordability, as lightning continues to cause fatalities and injuries across the country. ALSO READ: Lightning strike kills four, injures eight in Karongi Between January 1, 2022, and April 10, 2025, a total of 590 lightning-related incidents were recorded in Rwanda, resulting in 215 deaths and 630 injuries. Christine Hitimana Niyotwambaza, Director General of Surveillance and Preparedness at the ministry, told The New Times that many public spaces remain inadequately protected against lightning strikes. For instance, while higher learning institutions have achieved 80 percent coverage with lightning protection systems, primary and pre-primary schools stand at 46 percent. ALSO READ: Rwanda's lightning hotspots: Why some areas are more prone to strikes Secondary schools are protected at a rate of 43 percent, and nine-year basic education schools at just 34 percent. Health facilities are better protected, with 63 percent coverage. Currently, the cost of lightning rods varies depending on their protection capacity and manufacturer. A lightning rod (air terminal) with a protection radius of up to 100 meters typically costs between Rwf1 million and Rwf1.5 million. ALSO READ: Rutsiro: Lightning-induced deaths decline in public places – official “Costs depend on several factors, including the source of raw materials and the type of rod being produced. But producing them locally is expected to be more affordable than imports,” Niyotwambaza said. “Local production will not only reduce costs but also create job opportunities and boost research in academic institutions,” she added. Since January, Rwanda Polytechnic’s Karongi College has been developing affordable, locally made lightning protection systems, following an agreement between MINEMA and the Ministry of Education, according to Ephrem Musonera, the Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academics, Research and Institutional Advancement (DVC ARIA) at Rwanda Polytechnic. “The project aims to create an efficient, cost-effective system that meets international standards. Key activities being done include testing the prototype in internationally recognised labs and conducting advanced research to expand the protection radius from 10m to at least 100m, with the goal of eventually producing an active lightning protection system,” he told The New Times.
