Millions lost as fire guts Amber Court Market again

Vendors of Amber Court Market check through their kiosks that were gutted by fire this morning. PHOTO BY DENIS EDEMA

What you need to know:

  • The Kiira Regional Fire Brigade Commander, Mr Collins Agaba, said investigations from previous fire outbreaks at the market indicate that fire resulted from poor power connection and vendors' negligence.

JINJA. Fire has, for the third time in a period of 10 months, gutted Amber Court Market located in Kimaka-Mpumudde Division, Jinja municipality, destroying property worth millions of shillings.

The chairman of the market, Mr Ayub Kitamilike, said the fire started at around 5.30am on Thursday morning from a kiosk belonging to a one Sam. He suspects the fire could have resulted from a poor electricity connection.

"I was this morning informed about the fire and when I came over, we tried to do whatever we could to put it out, but it was too strong for us to handle. Police fire brigade arrived 30 minutes later and it was too late for them to rescue anything,” Mr Kitamilike said.

He added that about 100 vendors were affected in a fire outbreak that destroyed more than 30 stalls and 25 kiosks.

Ms Esther Tawala, a vendor who has worked at the market for 8 years, said the fire started when most of the vendors had reported for work, but they were unable to rescue their merchandise.

The Kiira Regional Fire Brigade Commander, Mr Collins Agaba, said investigations from previous fire outbreaks at the market indicate that fire resulted from poor power connection and vendors' negligence.

"Preliminary investigations in this case indicate that a fridge was left on overnight in one of the kiosks that overheated and exploded. Since the structures were made of wood, the fire quickly spread all over," he explained.