URN
Industrial traders in Soroti are counting losses after an inferno that razed property in the wee hours of Christmas Day. The fire gutted six timber workshops and other building materials including grinding mills along Cemetery Road in Jua Kali area in Soroti City East Division.
The affected businesses include Annah Timber dealers, Soroti Timber Craft, Lopai Timber Dealers, Abeso Rose (scrap and timber dealer), Peter Mufu, and Amude Machines and Rice Machines, among others.
Anne Atim, the proprietor of Kawa Anne Enterprises, says that the loss is immense and comes at a time when she had acquired a new loan for her business. She says her new stock alone had more than UGX.70 million by Friday.
Oscar Gregg Ageca, the East Kyoga Regional Police Spokesman says the fire brigade managed to contain the fire from causing more damage to the area using two fire trucks with multiple horses.
Ageca adds that they have not yet established the cause of the fire but notes that property more than one billion shillings has been lost in the fire.
It is the third fire incident in Soroti City in less than 48 hours. The first fire outbreak was reported in Madera Ward, Soroti City Est Division while the second incident was reported at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital.
Although no lives were lost in all the incidents, the Police say the first two incidents were caused by electrical faults. At Soroti Regional Referral Hospital, the fire broke out around midday on Friday while Madera fire broke out at night.
In all the affected areas, there were no occupants in the houses or offices.
According to the Police, they have commenced investigations into the fire that wreaked havoc to traders in Soroti.
