MININTER launches new project to strengthen firefighting and emergency response capacity

On, Thursday 20 August 2026, the Ministry of Interior (MININTER), in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), launched the project on “Strengthening Rwanda’s Capacities for Firefighting and Emergency Response”.

The project is supported by the Government of Poland through UNIDO and aims to strengthen Rwanda’s capacity to prevent, prepare for and respond effectively to fires and other emergencies, thereby enhancing the protection of lives, property and livelihoods.

Speaking at the launch, Mr. SESONGA Benjamin highlighted that Rwanda continues to experience economic growth, urbanization, infrastructure development and expansion of industrial and commercial activities which bring many benefits to our country but also create new and increasingly complex risks related to fire and other emergencies. Thus, the need to continuously assess whether our existing systems, capacities, equipment, infrastructure, regulations, human resources and coordination mechanisms are adequate to address these risks.  

As the first major step under the project, a feasibility study will be conducted and will provide the evidence base for defining and prioritizing the activities to be implemented under the project.