Storm Destroys 6 Classrooms at EP Amahoro ADEPR in Kayonza — Students Sit Exams Under Emergency Tent
A powerful storm that struck Kayonza District on the night of March 18, 2026, left a primary school in ruins, injured one student, and forced school authorities to erect an emergency tent so that pupils could continue their end-of-term examinations without interruption. The incident at EP Amahoro ADEPR in Ndego Sector has raised urgent questions about the structural safety of school buildings and the resilience of rural education infrastructure in Rwanda's rainy season.
⚠️ Incident Summary
- Date of storm: March 18, 2026
- Location: EP Amahoro ADEPR, Humure Village, Kiyovu Cell, Ndego Sector, Kayonza District
- Damage: 6 classrooms and the headmaster's office destroyed; ADEPR church roof also collapsed
- Injured: One student struck on the head by debris — treated and discharged same day
- Response: Emergency tent erected for students to complete end-of-term exams
- Exams end: Monday, March 23, 2026
- Return to school: After repairs are completed
The Storm: What Happened on the Night of March 18
On the evening of Wednesday, March 18, 2026, a violent storm accompanied by strong winds swept through Humure Village in Ndego Sector, Kayonza District. The storm struck EP Amahoro ADEPR — a primary school operating in partnership between the ADEPR church organisation and the Rwandan government — with devastating force.
By the time the storm passed, six classrooms had been completely destroyed, their roofs torn away and walls left structurally compromised. The headmaster's office was also damaged in the storm. In a particularly alarming development, the roof of the ADEPR church located within the same village also collapsed — indicating the severity and wide reach of the storm's impact on the community.
One student was injured when debris struck their head during the collapse. The child was immediately taken to a medical facility for treatment and was discharged the same day. School authorities confirmed the student has since recovered fully.
"The rain fell on March 18, 2026, accompanied by strong winds, and destroyed 6 classrooms of EP Amahoro school located in Ndego Sector, as well as the headmaster's office." — Jules Higiro, Acting Deputy District Mayor, Kayonza District
Exams Must Go On: The Emergency Tent Solution
The timing of the disaster could hardly have been worse. Students at EP Amaharo ADEPR were in the middle of their end-of-second-term examinations when the storm struck — and with six classrooms destroyed, there was suddenly nowhere for children to sit their tests.
District and school authorities moved quickly. An emergency tent was erected on the school grounds to serve as a temporary examination hall, allowing students to complete their second-term exams without being forced to abandon the assessment period entirely.
According to Jules Higiro, the Acting Deputy District Mayor of Kayonza, examinations were expected to conclude on Monday, March 23, 2026. Students will be permitted to return to school once repairs to the damaged classrooms have been completed.
"A tent was built for the children to sit their exams in. The exams will end on Monday, March 23, 2026. They will return to school once the classrooms have been repaired." — Jules Higiro, Acting Deputy District Mayor, Kayonza
The decision to press ahead with examinations under a tent — rather than postpone or cancel — reflects the strong emphasis Rwanda's education system places on minimising disruptions to the academic calendar, even in the face of emergency circumstances.
The Injured Student: A Swift Response
Amid the destruction, the welfare of the injured student was the immediate priority. The child, who sustained a head injury when debris fell during the collapse, was transported to a health facility without delay. Medical staff treated the injury, which was assessed as minor, and the student was able to return home the same day.
"The child was injured in a minor way, was taken to a doctor, treated, and went straight home. They are now doing well." — Jules Higiro, Acting Deputy District Mayor, Kayonza
While the swift medical response is reassuring, the incident serves as a reminder of the real physical dangers that structural failures in school buildings pose to children — particularly during Rwanda's rainy seasons, when storms of this intensity are not uncommon.
Questions About the Building: Who Built It and When?
The destruction at EP Amahoro ADEPR has prompted immediate questions about the quality and age of the school's construction. When News Within asked Jules Higiro whether the buildings may have been poorly constructed or recently built, his response drew an important distinction.
"The government-built classrooms were not damaged at all. The ones that collapsed had been built some time ago by ADEPR's partner organisation. This is an ADEPR school, but it operates in partnership with the government." — Jules Higiro, Acting Deputy District Mayor, Kayonza
This clarification is significant. It indicates that the six destroyed classrooms were not part of Rwanda's standard government school construction programme — which adheres to national building standards and specifications — but were instead structures built by ADEPR's private partner at an earlier date. The government-constructed sections of the school, by contrast, withstood the storm without damage.
This raises questions that district authorities and ADEPR will need to address as part of the recovery process: When were the collapsed structures built? Were they constructed to the required standards? And what accountability exists when a school building funded by a non-government partner fails and injures a child?
A Warning for All Residents: Take Care of Your Roofs
Beyond the immediate crisis at EP Amahoro, Jules Higiro used the incident to deliver a broader safety message to all residents of Kayonza District ahead of the ongoing rainy season.
"My message is that all residents, during this rainy season, should check their buildings — ensure doors and windows are properly secured, and that roofs are well maintained and reinforced." — Jules Higiro, Acting Deputy District Mayor, Kayonza
It is a timely warning. Rwanda's rainy seasons — which typically run from March to May and from October to December — bring with them regular storms that can cause significant structural damage to buildings that have not been properly maintained. Poorly secured roofing sheets, weakened roof supports, and ageing wall structures are all vulnerable to the high winds that frequently accompany heavy rainfall in the region.
- Inspect roof supports and replace damaged or rusted roofing sheets
- Ensure all doors and windows close and lock properly to prevent wind damage
- Clear gutters and drainage channels around the building
- Report any visible cracks in walls or foundations to local authorities
- Avoid sheltering in old or structurally weak buildings during storms
The Broader Challenge: School Infrastructure in Rwanda's Rainy Season
The incident at EP Amahoro ADEPR is not isolated. Across Rwanda, the rainy seasons bring annual reports of school buildings damaged or destroyed by storms — a challenge that reflects the scale of the infrastructure investment still needed in the country's education system, particularly in rural areas.
Rwanda has made enormous strides in expanding access to education over the past two decades, dramatically increasing enrolment at both primary and secondary levels. But the pace of construction has not always matched the pace of enrolment growth, and in some areas, older school buildings — particularly those built by community organisations or non-government partners rather than by the state — have not kept pace with national building standards.
The government's response at EP Amahoro — rapidly providing a tent for examinations and committing to repairs before students return — demonstrates the kind of responsive crisis management that prevents a bad situation from becoming worse. But the longer-term question of how to systematically assess, upgrade, and where necessary replace ageing and non-compliant school buildings across the country remains one of the most pressing challenges in Rwanda's education infrastructure agenda.
News Within will continue to monitor and report on this story as repairs progress and students return to school. If you have information about similar incidents in your community, contact us at newswithinblog@gmail.com.
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