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Mbarara, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Mbarara city traders who lost their timber and furniture to fire have written to the speaker of parliament in the request of financial assistance worth 1.5 billion shillings.
On 25th October 2021, fire burnt timber kiosks, motor garages destroying property that included; timber, machines, timber stores, door frames, shutters, furniture, hardware property, vehicles among others.
Forty-eight traders have now signed a letter and presented their financial losses to the Speaker of Parliament through their area Members of Parliament asking for both financial assistance and tax arrears waiver. They do not however state what their insurers are saying about compensating them.
They say property worth 1.5 billion was destroyed in the fire.
Francis Basiime, the acting chairperson of the affected traders says the unforeseen disaster left all the traders psychologically and financially distressed.
He demands the police to speed up investigations and come up with a report that they can attach to their letters to submit to different offices seeking assistance.
Leo Ishanga, the director of Mbarara General Works limited and one of the affected traders says as the unending struggles of Covid-19 are still on, the fires that destroyed their property have worsened their financial strength, noting that they have liability loans with several banks.
He wants the government to cause a tax arrears waiver on all traders that lost property in the fires.
He says the unending investigations can never stop life from continuing much as the reports are needed by URA, Insurance companies and banks.
Mbarara City Clerk John Behagana Matama, blames the quick spread of the fires on the lack of service lanes, noting that all the would-be lanes in the affected area were constructed on.
He urged traders to stay patient and wait for a final report from police after investigations are done.
Ishanga says traders and the city authorities have agreed that simple temporary structures that cannot be quickly razed by fire be constructed as the city plans for them the way forward.
Robert Mugabe Kakyebezi, the Mbarara City Mayor stopped the affected traders from constructing unless they follow the right procedures and promised to sit with the security committee to speed up the investigations and come up with a report.
Samson Kasasira, Rwizi region police spokesperson when contacted said that they have given the traders a simple report to use for the meantime as they wait for a detailed report after investigations.
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