At least 150 kiosks in Ntungamo Market have been razed down after a fire gutted the market at 3:00 am.
The fire burnt the kiosks which served as retail shops, restaurants and stores for the second time in a period of less than a year.
It was first gutted by fire in October 2018 burning down over 40 kiosks and two video halls. According to Julius Tukundane a trader whose kiosk was burnt; he suspects that the market could have been torched by people with ill motives.
Another trader also says the fire is not a surprise to the traders as the municipal authorities have always wanted to evict them from the market on grounds that the place is not gazetted as a market.
He alleges that municipal authorities have always looked for an opportunity to remove them off the space.
However, the Ntungamo Municipality Mayor, Jacob Kafureka called for calm among the traders urging them to allow police to carry out investigations.
He asked the local leaders and traders to instead volunteer information and avail it to the authorities.
Damian Katwesiime the Ntungamo District Police Commander says that the police are on the ground and investigating the matter.
Katwesiime cautioned the traders against leaving charcoal stoves in their kiosks lighting which he revealed can also spark off fire.
