Conan Businge
2 January 2009
Kampala — FIRE gutted shops and a clinic along William Street in Kampala, on Thursday night, destroying merchandise and drugs worth millions of shillings.
The fire, according to eye witnesses, started from one of the shops on Plot 10, William Street, whose occupants were welding burglar proofed doors.
Webster International, a general merchandise shop, Orthopedic Consultation Clinic, and Emilex Limited, dealers in electrical, textile and ladies wear, were the businesses severely affected.
Other merchandise for about 30 business people who work on the verandahs and the sides of the affected shops, were also destroyed by water during the rescue exercise.
John Mpirirwe, the local council defence secretary of Nakasero IV, said the fire that started at about 8:00pm, was accidental.
"The occupants of Webster International had just shifted to another shop, and had hired workers to weld their burglar proofed windows and doors," Mpirirwe explained, adding "the workmen accidentally lit the ceiling and set off the fire."
So much merchandise and medicine were destroyed in the course of putting off the fire. The property was spread on the road, to save it from the fire.
According to the Police spokesperson, Judith Nabakooba, investigations into the inferno, were still on. Nabakooba also confirmed preliminary reports that the welders started the fire.
"There is a possibility that the welders were negligent. It is reported that they never informed the owner of the building, before they started welding."
Police and military Police personnel according to another eye witness, swung into action 30 minutes from the time the fire started. The Police cordoned off the scene to save the property from being stolen.
Last year, close to 100 fires gutted schools, homes and shops in the country.
By press time, the burnt shops and clinic were still cordoned off, under tight security.
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