Panic and smoke filled the air at Katwe Market on Sunday evening as a sudden fire tore through the bustling trading hub, destroying property valued at millions of shillings.
The blaze, whose origin remains unknown, erupted around 6:00 p.m., according to eyewitnesses. Within moments, flames had spread through multiple sections of the market, engulfing stalls and consuming merchandise belonging to dozens of traders.
By the time firefighters from the Police Fire Brigade arrived with trucks and water tanks, much of the damage had already been done. The team battled the inferno to prevent it from spreading further, but the losses were significant.
Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the fire, and investigations are underway.
The disaster comes only weeks after mysterious overnight demolitions at St. Balikudembe Market (Owino), an event that had already heightened fears among traders about the safety and security of Kampala’s major marketplaces.
As the smoke clears, traders at Katwe are left to assess the destruction and count their losses, while city officials promise to probe the cause of the fire.
