A devastating fire broke out early morning of Saturday at Muko Market in Murukoro village, Muko sub-county, Rubanda district, resulting in the destruction of millions of shillings worth of property. The fire, which started around 4:00 AM, affected various businesses, including bars, retail stores, casino gaming establishments, and salons.
By the time our reporter arrived at the scene, the police fire brigade had managed to extinguish the main flames, although some smaller fires continued to smolder. Several traders were seen attempting to salvage the remaining items from their businesses.
Living Natumanya, an eyewitness, recounted his experience: “As I was heading to work, I noticed a small flame coming from one of the houses but did not think much of it. Later, I saw the flames growing, which prompted me to wake the neighbors to prevent them from being trapped inside their houses.”
Veleriano Turyamureba, a trader who lost his business, described the chaos that ensued: “Around 4:00 AM, I heard noise coming from outside. When I went out, I saw my house engulfed in flames. As a mechanic, all my tools have been destroyed.” Turyamureba emphasized that this is the first time such an incident has occurred in the area and called on the government to provide assistance to those affected.
David Akampurira, the chairman of LC1 Murukoro village, highlighted the extensive damage: “A lot of properties have been destroyed, and traders have not been able to rescue any of their belongings.”
This is the first time Muko Market has been affected by fire. However, fire outbreaks are common in the Kigezi sub-region during the dry season. The frequency of these incidents underscores the need for improved fire prevention and response measures.
As the community begins to assess the damage and rebuild, there is a pressing need for support from the government and other stakeholders to help the affected traders recover from this devastating loss.
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