By Paul Watala

OVER 80 stalls in Nakaloke market in Mbale district were on Wednesday gutted by fire, destroying merchandise worth millions.

The fire, suspected to have been caused by an electric short circuit, started at 1:00am and went on until 2:00am when the Police fire brigade managed to stop it.

The fire gutted two blocks located in the middle of the market where electronics and other food items are sold. It is suspected to have started from a salon located in the middle of the market.

The market is mostly occupied by widows who run big families of not less than five children each.

The vendors were yelling at the top of their voices as smoke filled the air. Others were rushed to Nakaloke health centre for first aid.

“Where am I going to get the money to service my loan? Jesus, why should you forget me at the time when my children need school fees,” Grace Nandudu, a mother of seven, cried as others looked on helplessly.

Nandudu said she had acquired the loan with the help of her father who stood as surety when her husband died. She added that she used the money to set up a small business to help take care of her children.

Sulaina Nagudi, a mother of six, said she has been the bread winner of her family because her husband is unemployed.

Nagudi appealed to the Government and other NGOs to come to their rescue.

Muhammad Iguru, the Nakaloke central zone LC1 vice-chairperson, said the market, which shelters about 1,000 traders, lacks fire extinguishers.