The Katwe Market fire has destroyed merchandise worth millions of shillings in Katwe II Parish, Makindye Division in Kampala. As a result, dozens of traders now face devastating financial losses and uncertain futures.
Early Monday morning, traders arrived to find their stalls reduced to ashes. Instead of opening their businesses as usual, many stood silently near the charred remains of their goods. For many vendors, the scene marked the sudden collapse of years of effort and investment.
Among the hardest hit was Nusurah Nayiga, who lost charcoal worth about Shs4 million in the Katwe Market fire. On Sunday evening, she had stocked 60 full sacks of charcoal in preparation for the busy trading week. Each sack cost Shs73,000, making the loss particularly painful.
“I had just offloaded them at around 8pm,” she said. “However, by morning everything had burned.”
For Nayiga, the charcoal trade supports her entire household. Therefore, the destruction has left her deeply worried about how she will restart the business.
Similarly, Sarah Nansubuga counted heavy losses after the Katwe Market fire swept through the market stalls. She had stocked fresh vegetables worth about Shs600,000 on Sunday evening. Normally, Monday mornings bring strong customer demand for fresh produce.
Instead, she arrived to find the vegetables completely destroyed.
“I expected to begin selling early Monday morning,” she explained. “Unfortunately, everything had burned.”
Vegetable traders depend on daily sales to survive. As a result, losing an entire stock overnight creates immediate financial pressure.
Meanwhile, James Kato, who sells food items in the market, described how quickly the Katwe Market fire spread. According to him, traders rushed toward the stalls when they noticed the flames.
However, the fire had already grown too strong.
“When we arrived, the fire was already intense,” Kato said. “We tried to rescue some items. Unfortunately, most stalls were already burning.”
Likewise, Prossy Namirembe lost plastic household goods and utensils worth more than Shs1 million in the Katwe Market fire. Her small stall had served local customers for several years.
“This business is my only source of income,” she said quietly. “Therefore, losing everything like this is extremely painful.”
Markets like Katwe play a major role in Kampala’s informal economy. In fact, thousands of families rely on daily market activity to survive. Consequently, disasters such as the Katwe Market fire affect not only traders but also the wider community.
Later in the morning, Zahra Luyirika, the Member of Parliament-elect for the area, visited the market. She confirmed that residents first noticed smoke rising from the market during the early morning hours.
“Residents alerted us when they saw smoke,” she explained. “However, by the time traders arrived, the fire had already spread across several stalls.”
According to Luyirika, many families depend entirely on market businesses. Therefore, the losses caused by the Katwe Market fire will have lasting economic effects.
At the same time, some traders suspect that electrical problems may have triggered the Katwe Market fire. Several vendors reported unusual power inconsistencies on Sunday night.
In many Kampala markets, traders rely on shared electricity connections. As a result, stalls often use improvised wiring systems.
Such connections increase the risk of electrical fires. In crowded trading areas, a small spark can quickly spread into a major blaze.
Eyewitnesses said the fire brigade arrived around 1am to respond to the Katwe Market fire. Nevertheless, some traders reported challenges during the emergency response.
According to witnesses, one firefighting truck arrived without water. Consequently, early firefighting efforts slowed.
By the time firefighters managed to contain the Katwe Market fire, many stalls had already burned completely. Unfortunately, several traders lost their entire businesses.
Market fires have become a recurring concern in Kampala. Over the years, several markets have experienced similar disasters.
Typically, crowded stalls and flammable materials create dangerous conditions. In addition, poor electrical wiring often increases fire risks.
Most trading spaces use temporary structures made from wood, plastic, and iron sheets. Therefore, once a fire begins, it spreads rapidly.
Furthermore, many markets lack essential fire safety systems. For example, fire hydrants and extinguishers are often missing.
Without these systems, traders have little ability to control fires before they spread.
The Katwe Market fire has once again exposed the vulnerability of small-scale traders. Many vendors operate with limited savings and no insurance protection.
As a result, losing stock often means starting the business again from zero.
Throughout Monday morning, traders searched through the burnt debris. Some tried to recover partially damaged goods. Meanwhile, others simply watched the ruins of their stalls.
Authorities had not yet confirmed the exact cause of the Katwe Market fire by press time. However, investigations are expected to determine whether an electrical fault triggered the blaze.
In the meantime, traders continue to call for support from government authorities and local leaders. Many hope that financial assistance will help them rebuild their businesses.
Ultimately, the Katwe Market fire has left more than physical destruction. It has shaken the confidence of traders who rely on the market every day.
For many vendors in Katwe, rebuilding will require patience, community support, and time. Until then, the ashes of the market remain a painful reminder of how quickly livelihoods can disappear.
