UGANDA, Kampala | Real Muloodi News | The Kapchorwa Central Market fire, which broke out on Saturday, January 4, 2025, left nearly 700 traders in Sebei Sub-region counting immense losses.
The fire, which started at around 11:00 p.m., destroyed stalls, goods, and retail spaces, crippling the livelihoods of many families.
It burned for nearly three hours, devastating the area before extinguishing itself due to a lack of firefighting services at the scene.
On Sunday, January 5, 2025, Scovin Kwaga, one of the affected traders, stood among the rubble of her former produce stall.
“What will I tell my children? How will I feed them? Banks are coming for their money, yet everything we had is gone,” she lamented.
Like many of her fellow vendors, Kwaga relied on loans to sustain her business, leaving her unsure of how to recover from the disaster.
Kapchorwa Municipality Mayor Andrew Timothy Mangusho described the fire as the most destructive incident ever recorded in the sub-region.
Preliminary reports suggested the fire may have been started by an unattended charcoal stove left burning in a restaurant, but police are still investigating the exact cause.
The incident left hundreds of traders devastated. Most had taken loans from financial institutions to stock stalls and grow their businesses. Many now face mounting debts and the possibility of defaulting on their loans.
One trader, Ibrahim Mafabi, who sold shoes and clothing, reported losing goods worth UGX 10 million.
“We don’t know where to begin. We are terrified that the banks will arrest us for failing to pay back the loans,” Mafabi said.
Another trader, Godfrey Makoba, described their struggle to control the blaze.
“We tried to put out the fire, but it was too strong. Now we are appealing to the government for assistance. These businesses were our only source of income, helping us pay school fees and support our families,” he said.
Some traders have called on banks and other lenders to offer relief during this difficult period.
“We request more time from the people who gave us loans. This fire has left us with nothing,” said Munawari Chebet, one of the traders who lost her merchandise.
Kapchorwa Central Market was among the 18 facilities listed for modernisation under a government plan. However, no upgrades had been made by the time of the fire.
Local leaders are now urging the government to expedite the construction of a modern market with better safety measures to protect against future disasters.
The fire brigade, which was called to the scene, arrived eight hours after the blaze had started.
The nearest firefighting truck had to travel from Jinja District, approximately 209 kilometres away. This delay highlighted the inadequacy of firefighting infrastructure in Kapchorwa and other rural districts.
Fred Chesang, the Sipi Regional Police spokesperson, emphasised the urgent need for locally stationed firefighting equipment.
“Our initial investigations suggest the fire may have started from a charcoal stove burning overnight. Due to strong winds, it spread quickly, destroying timber and stalls,” Chesang said.
He added that the police were compiling a list of affected traders to assess the total damage.
The incident also reignited criticism of the government’s firefighting strategy. In July 2019, the government announced plans to equip 15 police stations nationwide with firefighting trucks and related resources.
Kapchorwa was one of the districts earmarked to receive these upgrades, alongside other areas such as Kamuli, Moyo, and Nebbi.
However, as of January 2025, Kapchorwa still lacked the promised equipment, leaving the community vulnerable to disasters like this.
Traders like Jackline Chemutai and Juliet Nafuna reported significant losses. Chemutai, a produce vendor, lost goods worth UGX 5 million, while Nafuna estimated her losses at UGX 8 million. Both traders expressed frustration with the lack of timely assistance during the fire.
“We called for help, but it was too late by the time the fire brigade arrived,” Nafuna said.
Local leaders, including Kusuro Bonny, chairperson of the nearby Taxi Park, are calling for urgent government intervention.
“The traders have lost everything, including the cash they kept in their stalls. We are appealing to the Office of the Prime Minister to provide financial relief and rebuild the market,” Kusuro said.
The Kapchorwa Central Market fire has left the affected traders uncertain about their futures. Many relied on the market to support their families, pay school fees, and maintain their livelihoods.
As investigations continue, the traders hope for immediate assistance to begin the long road to recovery.
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