Over 40 traders in Arivu trading centre, Arua district are counting losses after property estimated at sh150m was destroyed in a fire on the Arua-Nebbi Highway.

The fire that started in the wee hours of Wednesday morning consumed four different rooms of a huge store where farmers, textile traders among others sell their goods.

Morris Nguma the LC1 chairman of Egara A village in Arivu sub-county told New Vision that one trader who slept in the store took off with clothes on his motorcycle when the fire started and he’s now suspected to be behind the fire.

Nguma says the trader identified as Patrick Arionzi on the fateful night slept in the store but his actions have left many suspicious.

The Police fire brigade team arrived when the fire had already burnt all the goods to ashes.

According to Nguma, the fire started at around 2:30 am and the Police arrived at 3:30 am.

He identified items kept in the store by traders as clothes, gumboots, shoes, beans, cabbages, sewing machines and other food items.

He said the goods are mostly for traders from Arua City who store the items for sale in Arivu and Ajia markets.

Nguma noted that he had so far listed 36 traders who confirmed that their goods were being kept in the store.