Hundreds of traders in Ndeeba are reeling from catastrophic losses after a devastating fire tore through Kasumba Zone, Lubaga Division, last night.
The worst-hit were timber merchants and woodworking machine operators. Many of them watched helplessly as their livelihoods were reduced to ashes.
Now, grappling with ruin, they are appealing to the government for immediate assistance, saying repeated fires have left them empty-handed and hopeless.
By morning, the air was still heavy with smoke. Traders gathered at the scene, inspecting the charred remains of their businesses. Timber yards, carpentry workshops, and food stalls once bustling with activity now lie in ruins.
The fire reportedly broke out around 10:30 p.m., swiftly engulfing the area. Witnesses described scenes of devastation—some traders sat motionless amid the rubble, heads buried in their hands, while others wandered through the debris, stunned by the destruction.
Amid the ruins, a few traders tried to salvage anything of value. Meanwhile, scrap dealers moved in, collecting burnt metal and charcoal, a grim sign that recovery would be an uphill battle.
Several traders, speaking to reporters, revealed that fear of fires has haunted the area for months. Despite multiple outbreaks, no official cause has ever been confirmed. Some traders speculated about the sources, but with no clear answers, frustration is growing.
Many of the affected traders had borrowed heavily to run their businesses. Now, with their goods destroyed, they face crushing debts without any way to repay.
“We have lost everything. We urgently need support,” one trader said, his voice breaking with emotion.
Anger is also mounting over government spending priorities. Traders expressed outrage over the recent allocation of 100 million shillings to Members of Parliament, questioning why devastated citizens receive no comparable support.
The disaster drew political leaders to the scene. Lubaga South MP, Aloysius Mukasa, visited the site alongside local officials. Mukasa sharply criticised the government’s failure to prioritize basic emergency infrastructure over lavish political spending. He called for new fire brigade stations and dedicated water lines in high-risk trading zones.
The Kasumba Zone was a vital economic hub, supporting over 4,500 people, according to Fred Lukwago, Chairperson of Ndeeba traders. Lukwago revealed that the land ownership is split among three landlords, including the government itself.
Lukwago is now calling for sweeping reforms. He proposed separating food vendors from timber dealers, creating proper road networks, building firebreak corridors, and setting up a financial safety net for traders drowning in debt.
Adding insult to injury, the lone fire brigade truck dispatched to the scene exhausted its water supply during firefighting efforts. The incident has raised urgent questions about Kampala’s readiness to respond to such disasters in densely populated commercial areas.
As evening fell, sorrow hung heavy over Ndeeba. Traders, their dreams reduced to rubble, continue to wait and hope that real help—not just promises—will come to rescue their shattered lives.
