Residents of Ngoma District are taking steps to protect their homes and lives as Rwanda prepares for a rainy season expected to bring heavy rainfall.

The preparations come after strong winds and lightning caused deaths and damaged homes in the district last year.

ALSO READ: Unusually heavy rains forecast for September-December season

During Umuganda held on Saturday, August 29, officials from the Ministry of Emergency Management (MINEMA) joined residents of Jarama Sector, local leaders to secure roofs, clear drainage channels and fight soil erosion.

Residents told The New Times that the exercise brought back memories of the damage caused by last year’s storms. Elevania Mukamana, a resident of Remera Cell in Jarama Sector, said more than 70 houses in her area were damaged by strong winds.

"The wind came and destroyed our houses. Roofs were blown away and some even injured children. Schools were also destroyed. The disasters really set us back,” Mukamana said.

She said residents have learned from the experience and are now paying more attention to securing their roofs.

"Today, everyone building a house is required to secure the roof, as advised by local authorities. We hope that if we continue taking preventive measures, the forecast heavy rain will not cause a lot of damage,” she said.

ALSO READ: Inside plan to respond to El Niño disasters

Rwanda Meteorology Agency forecasts that the country will record rainfall totals ranging between 300 and 1,000 millimetres in the September-December season. This is higher than the long-term average of 279 to 962 millimetres.

The expected rainfall pattern could be comparable to one recorded in 2023, when floods and landslides caused widespread damages in northwestern Rwanda, killing 136 people and displacing thousands of others.

Aristarque Ngoga, the Permanent Secretary at MINEMA, said the weather forecast was a reason for residents to prepare early rather than wait for disasters to strike.

"The weather forecast indicates that the coming season is expected to bring heavy rainfall. That is why we have the responsibility to warn residents that prevention is better than waiting for disasters to occur,” Ngoga said.

He noted that Eastern Province is particularly at risk of strong winds and lightning strikes, with Ngoma among the districts that have recorded a high number of disaster-related deaths.

Ngoga recalled that nine of 11 people who were killed by disasters on the same day last year were from Ngoma.

"Eastern Province will be heavily affected by strong winds and lightning strikes. We continue to urge residents to secure the roofs of their houses and avoid sheltering under trees when it is raining,” he said.

He also urged livestock owners to insure their animals against possible losses caused by disasters.

Ngoma District Mayor Nathalie Niyonagira said the district has already started putting preventive measures in place.

She said MINEMA has provided materials to help vulnerable residents secure their roofs, while builders have been trained in proper ways of securing houses.

"Activities are taking place across the district, including clearing water channels, fighting soil erosion and planting trees. The district is also installing lightning protection systems in public places,” Niyonagira said.

She said schools, churches and other public places have been identified for the installation of lightning conductors.

The preparations are part of wider efforts by the government to reduce the impact of disasters during the coming rainy season.

Ngoga said different institutions are working on measures suited to the risks in their sectors.

He said authorities in the transport sector are assessing roads and bridges that could be affected, while the mining sector is also putting preventive measures in place.

The Rwanda Water Resources Board has also been implementing measures to reduce the risk of flooding from Sebeya River in Western Province, while dams have been built in the volcanic region to slow the speed of water.

Ngoga said the government was using an early warning system to alert residents about possible disasters. MINEMA is working with the Ministry of ICT and Innovation as well as telecom companies to send disaster alerts to millions of people.

"About six million people are able to receive messages warning them about disasters or reminding them about preventive measures,” he said.