Fire erases Arapai market in Soroti
Some sources told New Vision Online that the fire was started by some smokers near the market.
Owners of the makeshift restaurants trying to save some of the huts from the ranging fire. (Photos by Godfrey Ojore)
By Godfrey Ojore
Journalists @New Vision
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Items worth millions of shillings were destroyed in a fire on Thursday (February 27) in the famous cattle market of Arapai in Soroti city.
The fire whose cause has not been established by press time burnt down all the makeshift restaurants, and bars, destroyed furniture, cooked food, jerricans of local brew (ajon), plates as well as money.
A 68-year-old Ketty Ikolu from Ajijimbalang in Soroti district lost 16 jerricans of ajon where she was expecting to get over sh300,000.
“I earn a living through brewing ajon and this week was my turn to sell but the fire has engulfed all my jericans,” a teary Ikolu said, adding that some of the customers have also taken off without paying her.
“This is going to be my end! Where else can I get capital to start a business? Who will buy me food and medication,” Ikolu cried out as other women held her.
Like her, many other women who operate bars said they have lost saucepans, food as well as plates.
“Even the things I managed to save from the raging fire were stolen in the process and now I am returning home empty handed,” Stella Akello, another bar operator, cried out.
Joseph Okello, who owned a restaurant said that he had lost the hut together with food and saucepans to thugs.
Police fire truck arrived minutes after the fire gutting the market.
“I had just spent sh400,000 in constructing that hut last month and this month it has been reduced to ashes! I don’t know how I am going to pay fees for my children,” Okello said as he looked in the distance at his hut being consumed by fire.
The fire brigade arrived after the fire had erased all the huts. People who lost their structures expressed displeasure with the police response.
Some sources told New Vision Online that the fire was started by some smokers near the market.
Witnesses explained that the strong winds currently in Teso, made the fire spread fast, reducing a once vibrant market to ashes.
Police were yet to issue the magnitude of the damage and the possible cause of the fire.
Arapai is a weekly market that operates only on Thursday and it attracts traders as far as Mbale, Karamoja and other Teso districts to conduct trade. It's where the city generates big revenue. Nobody was injured.