Fire destroys property in Mbarara market

By Kyomuhendo Muhanga PROPERTY worth over sh5b was destroyed on Tuesday night when fire gutted Mbarara’s central and historical market in the municipality burning shops and kiosks to ashes. A Fire Brigade official said the fire broke out at around 9.30pm and is suspected to have been sparked off by an electric short-circuit in one of the shops. “I’m dead. I’m to hang myself. Where will I get the money to pay the bank,” a middle aged woman said as she cried at her burnt stall.“This is the end of my life,” another man standing next to a shop believed to be his shouted. Mbarara mayor Robert Rutehenda arrived at the scene a few minutes to mid-night. He described the incident as a tragedy. “This is a tragedy. My lord come down and save your people,” he said as fire spread across the market. Masaka Fire Brigade unit was called in to reinforce the Mbarara Brigade but nothing could be saved.Rutehenda said the market accommodated over 200 traders and that it contained all sorts of goods. He said the market was built in 1979 shortly after the liberation war to console and provide employment to the people who had lost their property in the Saba-Saba strikes.The Centenary Bank loans officer, Mr. Magoba and the manager of MBASCA Saving Bank, Joseph Kahuma Arali, visited the scene. Most traders had secured loans from the two institutions.