The year began on a tragic note for traders at Arua Bus Park in Kampala, as a devastating fire engulfed the Nyumba Kubwa plaza on Thursday.
The inferno destroyed the entire second floor of the building, leaving many counting immense losses. Arnold Muwanguzi, one of the traders, recounted the devastation, explaining that his shop, stocked with building paint, was reduced to ashes. “Everything is gone,” he lamented, echoing the sentiments of many others affected. Godfrey Katongole, Chairman of the Kampala Arcade Traders Association (KATA), revealed that some traders were rushed to nearby health facilities after collapsing from smoke inhalation and the shock of witnessing their livelihoods destroyed.
Musa, another trader, expressed gratitude to the police for saving several vehicles parked on the building’s first floor
. “If it weren’t for the police team, the entire building and all vehicles would have been lost. This incident is a reminder to every building owner to have fire extinguishers in place. Protecting property is essential,” he said.
Salim Uhuru, the Central Division Mayor, vowed to enforce regulations requiring building owners to install fire extinguishers to safeguard lives and property. He also commended the efforts of security agencies in containing the fire and preventing looting during the chaos.
” The cause of the fire remains unclear, with varying accounts from witnesses and traders. Some attributed the blaze to chemicals being melted for making liquid soap, while others suspected a gas cylinder explosion.
There were also claims that a restaurant or an electrical fault during paint mixing could have sparked the fire. Edrisa Musuuza, another affected trader, emphasized the lack of fire containment measures in the building and criticized the absence of basic fire management training. “We’ve lost so much because we were not prepared for such an emergency,” he remarked. For the traders at Arua Park, the fire has cast a shadow over the start of the year, underscoring the urgent need for improved safety measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
