Vendors operating in the privately owned Nakifuma Market in Nakifuma–Naggalama Town Council, Mukono District, are counting heavy losses following a fire outbreak that destroyed merchandise and property worth millions of shillings.
The blaze, whose cause is yet to be established, broke out at around 6:00 p.m., according to traders and residents.
The fire destroyed kiosks, refrigerators, and large quantities of merchandise, including bananas, tomatoes, onions, and other goods, leaving many traders struggling to recover from the devastating losses.
Many of the affected vendors said they had lost their primary source of livelihood and were uncertain about how they would rebuild their businesses.
The incident has also reignited calls for the government to construct a modern market, with traders arguing that the existing facility is inadequate and lacks basic infrastructure.
“We have been asking the government to build us a modern market because the conditions here are very poor. Dust and dirt spoil our goods, and many customers choose to buy elsewhere,” one trader said.
Yudaya Nasali, another trader at the market, criticized the authorities for failing to improve sanitation despite collecting daily dues from vendors.
“We pay taxes every day, but our leaders have not addressed basic sanitation problems. We need proper garbage collection, modern toilets, and a clean market environment. Many customers avoid this market because of the poor conditions,” Nasali said.
He added that flooding during the rainy season regularly causes significant losses to traders.
“Whenever it rains, the market floods. Our produce is destroyed, and buyers cannot enter the market. We are forced to sell outside, and much of our produce becomes unsellable,” he said.
The Mayor of Nakifuma–Naggalama Town Council, Fred Mutebi, expressed sympathy to the affected traders and pledged to work with the town council to improve conditions at the market.
“We shall work together with the town council to clean the market and ensure traders work in a safe and healthy environment. We shall also do everything possible to support those who have suffered losses,” Mutebi said.
During the visit, the affected traders received cash assistance and iron sheets to support the rebuilding of their businesses.
Area Member of Parliament Kiwanuka also pledged to lobby the government for the construction of a modern market.
“I will use my position in Parliament to advocate for the construction of a modern market for the people of Nakifuma. I will present this matter before Parliament so that the government can intervene,” Kiwanuka said.
The legislator also commented on reports that some individuals could be planning to evict traders from the market.
“If it is true that there are people trying to remove traders so they can take over the land, I would not be surprised. Similar incidents have happened elsewhere where traders’ property was destroyed before the land was taken,” he said.
The government had previously planned to construct a modern public market in Nakifuma under the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Development Programme (GKMA-DP). However, the project failed to materialize after the land earmarked for the market was reportedly sold, leaving the town without a site for the proposed market.
The latest fire has intensified calls for government intervention, with traders arguing that a modern, well-planned market would improve sanitation, enhance safety, protect businesses from future disasters, and boost trade in the fast-growing town.
