Over 20 car spare parts shops were reduced to rubble after a fierce fire gutted part of Ndeba, a busy suburb of Kampala, on Easter Sunday night.
The fire, which broke out at around 10:00 PM, swept through a row of spare parts shops, leaving several traders counting losses worth millions of shillings. Witnesses say the flames spread rapidly, fueled by flammable materials commonly stored in the shops.
“We just saw thick smoke and within minutes, everything was gone. We couldn’t save anything,” said Brian Muwanga, one of the affected traders.
The exact cause of the fire remains unclear, but authorities from the Uganda Police Fire and Rescue Services say investigations are underway. Preliminary reports suggest that an electrical fault or an unattended open flame could be to blame.
Firefighters arrived at the scene nearly an hour later, by which time the fire had already consumed most of the shops. Residents have criticized the delayed response and lack of nearby hydrants, calling for better disaster preparedness in the area.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango confirmed the incident and said no fatalities were reported, although the financial damage is extensive.
Local leaders and business associations are appealing to the government to support affected traders, many of whom had no insurance coverage.
“This is a big blow to our economy and livelihoods,” said Ndeba LC1 Chairperson Sarah Nansubuga. “We urge the authorities to fast-track investigations and put preventive measures in place.”