Timber and furniture dealers in Mbarara City are counting heavy losses after a fire razed part of their market in the early hours of Tuesday along Victor Bwana Road.The blaze destroyed timber and furniture worth millions of shillings, including beds, chairs, cupboards, a wood lathe machine, a woodworking table saw, a planer and other equipment.
Rwizi Region Police spokesperson Samson Kasasira said the fire broke out at around 2:50 a.m. but was reported to police at about 3:14 a.m. By the time the Police Fire and Rescue Services, together with private responders, arrived at the scene, the fire had already caused extensive damage to property and structures.Kasasira attributed the rapid spread of the fire to the congestion of the timber market, which made it difficult to contain the flames.
One of the affected traders, Betty Nuwagaba, said she lost three timber stores in the inferno. She explained that traders were alerted in the middle of the night, but the flames were already too intense to salvage any property. Nuwagaba appealed to the government to support the affected traders, saying many have been left without a source of livelihood.
Another trader, Apollo Twinomujuni, said the cause of the fire remains unknown. He noted that despite attempts by traders to save some of their merchandise, the fire spread too quickly, leaving him with losses estimated at 35 million Shillings. Mbarara City Mayor Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi said the incident should serve as a lesson to traders, noting that many have failed to comply with safety regulations issued by the city authorities. Kasasira said fires in commercial areas are commonly caused by faulty electrical wiring, although deliberate acts of arson cannot be ruled out.
He said investigators will establish the exact cause of Tuesday’s fire. This is the second major fire to hit the timber and furniture market along Victor Bwana Road. In 2023, another blaze destroyed timber and furniture, raising renewed concerns over fire safety and compliance with regulations in the busy trading area. URN