KAMPALA- A fire that gutted Kalerwe Market has left vendors in unaffected sections on edge, also worried about the safety of their goods.
The fire outbreak on Monday destroyed part of Kizito market, causing millions of shillings in losses. Vendors who were lucky enough to not have their stalls damaged are now living in fear, unsure of what might happen next.
The police and UMEME are still carrying out investigations to determine the root cause of the fire that ravaged Kalerwe Market, leaving hundreds of vendors with significant losses.
At the scene, this reporter has observed a joint team of police and UMEME officers gathering evidence and documenting the scene. The vendors affected, visibly frustrated and distraught, sat in empty spaces.
Aruna Ssebugwawo, Market Master of Kizito Market, recalled the devastating moment when he received a phone call at home informing him that the market was ablaze, including his clothes shop valued at 5 million.
“When I arrived, the scene was chaotic – everything was on fire. Mattresses and perfume shops accelerated the spread. The police fire team tried their best, but the wooden buildings made it difficult to salvage anything.” Aruna Ssebugwawo described.
Ssebugwawo expressed concern that other markets constructed with similar wooden structures are vulnerable to fires, echoing the risks faced by Kizito market. According to Ssebugwawo, the fire has rendered more than 70 vendors destitute, and their sole hope for recovery lies in government aid.
Prossy Namujuzi, a children’s merchandise vendor, credited divine intervention for sparing her shop from the Monday night fire, and expressed gratitude for the timely arrival of police fire-fighters who prevented the blaze from spreading.
She is also concerned that until the root cause of Monday’s fire is identified, her side of the market remains vulnerable, particularly given the wooden makeshift structures and informal electrical connections.
“We’re also at risk here, living in wooden makeshift structures. If the fire was caused by electrical issues, we’re especially vulnerable since we don’t have meters and everyone has their own unofficial connection,” Namujuzi said.
Other vendors who were not affected by the fire have urged the government through KCCA to construct a sturdy, permanent market structure, similar to Wandegeya Market, to provide a secure environment for their businesses.
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KCCA Spokesperson Daniel Nuwabine clarified that, unlike Wandegeya and Kasubi markets, Kalerwe Market’s private ownership means KCCA can only provide regulatory frameworks, not execute improvements. “We only provide the standards, and in our recent inspection, we outlined safety measures such as passageways that can help in case of the fire, toilets, and fire extinguishers, but they have yet to implement them.”Daniel Nuwabine noted.
