Fire razes Mbarara market
Feb 29, 2008
PROPERTY worth millions of shillings was destroyed on Tuesday night when fire gutted Mbarara Central Market. The Police and the UPDF battled hundreds of people who wanted to loot the merchandise as the Fire Brigade Unit put out the inferno.
By Kyomuhendo Muhanga
and Ahmed Ssengendo
PROPERTY worth millions of shillings was destroyed on Tuesday night when fire gutted Mbarara Central Market. The Police and the UPDF battled hundreds of people who wanted to loot the merchandise as the Fire Brigade Unit put out the inferno.
According to the Police, the fire that started at 7:30pm was suspected to have come from a kiosk on Mbaguta Street as a result of illegal electricity connection.
Mbarara mayor Wilson Tumwine lamented: “Satan has set up a base in Mbarara town. Why should this happen to Mbarara all the time?â€
He noted that the council spent sh2b reconstructing the market after it was destroyed by fire in 2001.
Tumwine said the district council would investigate the cause of the fire.
Kakoba Division LC3 chairman Rashid Mukasa said the council was collecting sh9m weekly from the market.
“This market has been a big source of revenue in Mbarara municipality.â€
Sowedi Mukasa, one of the effected traders, said he had just boosted his business with a loan from the bank.
“I am dead! Where will I get the money to clear the loan,†Mukasa said.
Several women, who owned the destroyed stalls, looked on helplessly as they wept.
The UPDF 2nd Division operations and training officer, Col. Emmanuel Rwashande, said two guards attached to Securewise Company, who were guarding the market, were arrested.
and Ahmed Ssengendo
PROPERTY worth millions of shillings was destroyed on Tuesday night when fire gutted Mbarara Central Market. The Police and the UPDF battled hundreds of people who wanted to loot the merchandise as the Fire Brigade Unit put out the inferno.
According to the Police, the fire that started at 7:30pm was suspected to have come from a kiosk on Mbaguta Street as a result of illegal electricity connection.
Mbarara mayor Wilson Tumwine lamented: “Satan has set up a base in Mbarara town. Why should this happen to Mbarara all the time?â€
He noted that the council spent sh2b reconstructing the market after it was destroyed by fire in 2001.
Tumwine said the district council would investigate the cause of the fire.
Kakoba Division LC3 chairman Rashid Mukasa said the council was collecting sh9m weekly from the market.
“This market has been a big source of revenue in Mbarara municipality.â€
Sowedi Mukasa, one of the effected traders, said he had just boosted his business with a loan from the bank.
“I am dead! Where will I get the money to clear the loan,†Mukasa said.
Several women, who owned the destroyed stalls, looked on helplessly as they wept.
The UPDF 2nd Division operations and training officer, Col. Emmanuel Rwashande, said two guards attached to Securewise Company, who were guarding the market, were arrested.