Fire destroys Arua district market

Sep 19, 2010

A fire burnt a busy market adjacent to Arua mini-market on Thursday night, destroying property worth millions on shillings.

By Vision reporter

A fire burnt a busy market adjacent to Arua mini-market on Thursday night, destroying property worth millions on shillings.

According to sources, the fire emanated from a stove that a woman left burning while cooking beans for the next day’s breakfast.

Stephen Ezama, one of the affected traders, said he lost 32 bags of ground nuts and 22 bags of simsim worth about sh8.5m.

“I recovered only five bags of simsim and nine bags of ground nuts, courtesy of good Samaritans. I am now stranded. I don’t know where to start,” he lamented.

Another victim, Hajat Hassan Muomba, said she lost a fridge which she was using to sell soda and juice.

Nasur Yusuf Waiga, a renown businessman and owner of the land on which the burnt market stood, expressed shock about the incident.

“Most of the women here are from low income earning communities. We pray that the Government comes to their rescue,” he said.

Efforts by symphathisers to save some of the property were fruitless as the fire raged on due to the night breeze that fanned the flames.

The Arua-based Civil Aviation Authority fire fighting truck attempted to get to the scene but arrived when the fire had engulfed the entire area.

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