Traders in tears after fire guts stores

By Juliet Waiswa   

Several traders in the wee hours of Monday were left in tears after fire gutted stores consuming chicken feed worth millions of shillings at the Kisenyi Market View.

The traders New Vision found at the site Tuesday morning said that the fire broke out at 2.00am and they could hardly save anything. The market is located behind Owino Market on Kafumbe Mukasa road.

“The defence secretary called me saying the market had caught fire. I could not do much as it was late, but we managed to call the fire brigade to put out the fire,” Joel Kagumba said.

Part of Kisenyi Market View which was gutted on Tuesday morning. Photo/Juliet Waiswa         

Kagumba however explained that premises are under contention since land wrangles broke out way back in 2006. He said that the ‘bibanjja’ owners sold off that land and warned the landlords to relocate the traders.

He alleged that an investor paid off the owners of the land and served them with several warnings to quit the place; he however was quick to say that the fire was just an accident.

“The ‘bibanjja’ owners have been threatening to demolish. They invited us to attend several meetings telling us to vacate land,” Kagumba revealed.

He says that the place houses over 1000 people who include traders, food vendors and distributors.

One of the traders identified only as Dorothy whose property was destroyed said that most of the traders had been warned and some had even vacated, urging that erecting a hoarding fence around the area was better than setting the place ablaze.

Other traders however differed, saying that they were not paying any rent to anyone and did not know their fate.

“We received documents and letters from our area chairman warning us to stay away from this place. These warnings date back six months. We have not been paying any rent,” Mahadi Kamba said.

What other traders say

Issa Isanga, a trader who has been dealing in Chicken feed, shells, golden fish and cotton seed cake, said; "I have lost property worth millions of shillings. We do not know what the cause of the fire was but we blame police for failing to protect our property."

John, a dealer in chicken feed who had two stores said he lost millions of shillings in the fire and suspects that some people poured petrol on the feds.

Remmy Kayondo, also dealer in chicken feed owned two milling machines worth millions of shillings. 

"I lost 30 bags of mukene which cost sh270,000 each; and seven bags of cotton seed. We learnt of the fire at 2.00am but we could save anything. I have worked in this place since 1997 and we have suffered two fire outbreaks."

Juma Kyobika, a chicken seller said: I leant of the fire at 2.00am but l could do nothing because l stay far away. There are two police posts but police officers could not help us. We suspect there is someone who wants this place."