Police in Tororo district have launched investigation to ascertain possible causes of fire that destroyed property worth over twenty million Uganda shillings.
It’s reported that the fire broke out at around 1am on Thursday morning and burnt to ashes several merchandise shops, saloons and other facilities within Pajwenda Town Council in Tororo District.
Preliminary police investigation revealed that the fire could have been ignited by a battery left on charge inside a barber shop and escalated by petrol fuel stored in some eight Jericans at Sara Ataa’s retail shop.
Owor Olweny, a bar owner revealed that he lost properties including TV sets, sodas, and speakers worth over seven million Uganda.
He is worried about how he will repay a loan which he had obtained to furnish the business.
“Many businesses including mine were running on loan. We are concerned about how we will start living again with the biting poverty coupled with high inflation,” Olweny said.
Other victims are identified as Sarah Ataa whose retail shop was also destroyed, Robert Owor, a chapatti vendor lost two bags of charcoal, tables, and benches worth over one million shillings.
Other traders who suffered from the same losses include Sande Hamman, a salon operator who lost clients’ phones which he had left charging at night, and Benya, a tomato vendor lost her stock valued at Ugx500,000.
Local authorities have cautioned traders against keeping reagents that can ignite fire in their homes and shops at night.