Fire has gutted Nakaloke Market in Mbale, destroying property worth millions of shillings. The fire, which started at 2.30am on Wednesday, destroyed at least 34 stalls.

The Nakaloke Central LC1 chairperson, Mr Mohammed Wasswa, said: "We suspect that the fire might have been caused by a charcoal stove left unattended to or by a short circuit." "It is good that the fire fighters responded in time, otherwise the whole market would be completely destroyed," he said.

According to Mr Wasswa, the market accommodates at least 265 vendors. Mr Saidi Jafari, the chairperson of Nakaloke Market, said he lost goods worth Shs2.3 million in the inferno.

"The biggest challenge is that most people had secured loans in various lending institutions to carry out small business but now they have registered a total loss. We are appealing to the government to come to their rescue," Mr Jafari said.