The Ministry in Charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA) has allocated more than Rwf200 million to strengthen lightning protection measures in Karongi District as part of the government's efforts to reduce disaster risks in the Western Province. The move follows a series of assessments that identified Karongi District as one of the most vulnerable districts to lightning due to its mountainous terrain, heavy rainfall, strong winds, and frequent landslides. ALSO READ: Rwanda turns to local production of lightning rods to curb lightning crisis Christine Hitimana Niyotwambaza, Director General of Surveillance and Preparedness at MINEMA, said the government has stepped up efforts and strengthened resilience against lightning and other disasters across the Western Province, as well as parts of Northern and Southern provinces. We have invested significantly in disaster prevention to build resilience across Western Province, and disaster-related incidents have declined considerably, she said, citing records from the past three years. According to Niyotwambaza, the government has also relocated residents from high-risk zones and, in partnership with development partners, has been installing lightning protection systems at public gathering places, despite the high cost of the infrastructure. In Karongi District alone, about Rwf240 million (US$161,000) has been allocated to strengthen resilience against lightning. Niyotwambaza explained that authorities have identified 100 high-risk sites that require lightning protection systems. However, implementation will begin with the most vulnerable locations as per resources currently available. Schools identified as being highly exposed to thunderstorms are among the priority institutions receiving lightning protection systems. Disasters and climate-related hazards can increase vulnerabilities and, in some cases, lead to displacement and migration, said Takashi Ujikawa, Migration Management Officer at IOM Rwanda, working with Karongi District to install the protection systems. Strengthening preparedness and resilience at the local level is therefore essential. Michel Kayihura, Deputy Headteacher in charge of studies at GS Musange, one of the schools in Karongi that recently received a lightning protection system, welcomed the initiative as a game changer. Kayihura, who recalled being struck by lightning in an incident that caused him to drop his phone but left him unharmed, said the school had long faced serious risks because of its location. We are surrounded by hills, and children often miss classes because of frequent thunderstorms that hit the school. We have been living in danger, Kayihura said, adding that lightning once struck the school's ICT laboratory, damaging 16 computers. ALSO READ: Disasters: Western Province put on alert over climate resilience We used to ask students to switch off all the gadgets whenever thunderstorms struck, which disrupted lessons. Now that the lightning protection system has been installed, students no longer live in fear or miss classes because of storms, he added, calling for the program to be expanded to other schools located in high-risk areas. Official MINEMA data show that lightning killed 287 people in Rwanda between 2020 and 2024 and left 951 others with permanent disabilities.
