Traders are also to blame for Park Yard fire
Mar 01, 2009
EDITOR—My face fell when I looked at the front pages of all the newspapers on Thursday carrying pictures of a monstrous fire that gutted Park Yard Market in the wee hours of Tuesday morning. I would like to first express my heartfelt sympathy to the tra
EDITOR—My face fell when I looked at the front pages of all the newspapers on Thursday carrying pictures of a monstrous fire that gutted Park Yard Market in the wee hours of Tuesday morning. I would like to first express my heartfelt sympathy to the traders who lost their property in the fire.
Indeed, it was a great loss. However, much as I would like to agree with a section of the public that have put the blame on the Government for poor planning of the city, traders are also to blame for the calamity.
Even after we had had several fires in the country, the traders could not realise that the market was congested. Having enough space could have averted such a calamity because fire fighters would have been in position to put it out fast. We should stop this practice of waiting for disasters to strike to blame the Government.
The traders should have borrowed a leaf from the fire that gutted Mbarara Central Market in January 2001. It was after that fire that the municipal council of Mbarara realised the need to create more space in the market.
I agree with the police boss, Gen. Kale Kayihura, when he says there were no access roads to enable fire tenders to put out the fire. As traders try to make ends meet, they should also care about places where they are operating from. I think the saying: “Once bitten, twice shy†will come in handy for the traders as they pick up the pieces.
Umaru M. Kashaka
IUIU, Mbale
Indeed, it was a great loss. However, much as I would like to agree with a section of the public that have put the blame on the Government for poor planning of the city, traders are also to blame for the calamity.
Even after we had had several fires in the country, the traders could not realise that the market was congested. Having enough space could have averted such a calamity because fire fighters would have been in position to put it out fast. We should stop this practice of waiting for disasters to strike to blame the Government.
The traders should have borrowed a leaf from the fire that gutted Mbarara Central Market in January 2001. It was after that fire that the municipal council of Mbarara realised the need to create more space in the market.
I agree with the police boss, Gen. Kale Kayihura, when he says there were no access roads to enable fire tenders to put out the fire. As traders try to make ends meet, they should also care about places where they are operating from. I think the saying: “Once bitten, twice shy†will come in handy for the traders as they pick up the pieces.
Umaru M. Kashaka
IUIU, Mbale