By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
REGIONAL
Over 1,00 traders have lost their businesses following last night’s fire that gutted a food and other merchandise market in Kabira town council, Ruhinda South County Mitooma District.
The 2:30am fire destroyed property worth millions of shillings as kiosks filled with food items like meat, fresh fruits, charcoal stores, welding, saloons, restaurants and shops were reduced to ashes.
Eyewitnesses say the fire started in one of the butchers before the sparks could spread to other kiosks.
According to town council mayor Micheal Katsigazi, each workshop employed over 3 people. He added that no fatality was registered in the fire.
Katsigazi could not establish the cause of the fire but said they (town council) are suspecting that it started as a result of a burning charcoal stove in one of the kiosks dealing in food sales.
“We are unable to establish the cause of the fire outbreak but we suspect that someone left behind a burning charcoal stove. The destroyed structures are made of timbers and because of the drought, fire sparks were able to spread to other kiosks,” he said
He also cites out alleged malice due to internal conflicts that have been rumoured among some vendors.
Some vendors who were contacted to rush to the scene and rescue their properties rebuked the district leadership of not having fire brigade services as the nearby fire brigade is in Bushenyi District serving all the five districts of greater Bushenyi.
Police from Kabira police station arrived at the scene but did not help in extinguishing the fire since they did not have required equipments.
Katsigazi told PARROTS UG that the fire was contained by first respondents with soil, and water.
He further disclosed that the council with the help of district leadership and area MPs have resolved to write to the Office of the Prime Minister seeking for relief support such as Iron sheets to traders who lost their properties.
In addition, Katsigazi said they are working on a physical plan to set up permanent structures one way of combating possible disasters such as fire, and generating high revenue for the council.
Police has started to investigate into the matter.
