Fire destroys 14 vehicles,businesses in Makerere

Police in Makerere ku Bbiri have arrested and detained a woman identified as Ruth, the owner of the premises where a fire broke out last night in Mukwenda Zone, Makerere 1 Parish.

It is alleged that the landlord mishandled savings collected by a group operating at the premises, which they were planning to use for Easter festivities. In retaliation, some members reportedly set the place on fire, destroying over 14 vehicles.

The fire reportedly started suddenly at around 4 a.m., causing residents to flee their homes in panic to avoid being trapped or injured. Emergency services were promptly called to the scene.

The affected area housed a garage, mattress sellers, and other businesses, all of which have now been reduced to ashes.

Among the 14 destroyed vehicles were Fuso trucks, a Noah, a Premio, and a Harrier. One of the vehicles allegedly belonged to a department under the Office of the President. Several other items, including furniture and business supplies, were also consumed by the fire.

Betoraniza Atanazious, the village defence officer, stated that the problem arose from the landlord, Ruth, allegedly mismanaging approximately Shs 28 million.

This money had been collected over a year by workers at the premises for Easter celebrations. When they demanded their money, Ruth reportedly became defensive, leading to the incident.

“It was 25 million in total, but only 13 million was retrieved from the bank,” he said. “Only a few were given their money, while others got nothing. That’s what caused the problem.”

The chaos began at around 10 p.m. and escalated until about 8 a.m. Residents claim Ruth threatened to evict them, prompting retaliation. Some reportedly vowed to take drastic measures against her.

“Some of the young men were staying in the rentals. They asked her to open for them, which she refused, and in retaliation, they got someone to torch the place,” he added.

Charles Lwanga, a resident of Kasangati, rushed to the scene after hearing news that a place near his mother’s home was on fire. “Part of my mother’s home was affected. The fire was too much,” he said.

The landlord’s home, along with houses rented out to tenants, was not spared by the fire. This is the fourth major fire in the area since the start of the year, with the first occurring in Kavule.

Each year, similar incidents are reported, often involving groups misusing collected funds and failing to repay, leading to disputes and destructive outcomes. Police are yet to give an official statement on the matter.