A devastating Ambercourt Market fire tore through Jinja City shortly after midnight on Friday, leaving hundreds of vendors in despair. Traders lost merchandise worth millions of shillings as flames consumed stalls in one of the city’s busiest trading hubs.
The fire started at about 12:30am and spread quickly through timber-built stalls. Police Fire and Rescue Services, working with private teams, contained the blaze before it destroyed the entire market. However, by the time firefighters brought it under control, most stalls had already gone up in flames.
Witnesses said the flames swept through within minutes, fueled by wooden structures. Rogers Bwerere, Vice Chairperson of Ambercourt Market, praised the firefighters. “They arrived early enough, and we thank them. If they had delayed, the whole market would have been lost,” he said.
Scovia Namwanje, who had resupplied her stall just hours earlier, counted total losses. “At 9pm, I stocked 300 kilograms of onions from Mbale City. Now I’m left with nothing,” she said. Veteran trader Maama Kasana, after 15 years in the market, also lost her stall. “Everything I owned turned to ashes,” she said. “We have asked government to build permanent structures, but nothing has been done.”
At dawn, traders walked through the ruins in shock. Many wept, while others voiced anger and suspicion. Julius Kayiira Nabambula recalled past incidents. “It seems every election season, a fire breaks out here. Then politicians arrive with donations to win votes. It feels planned,” he said.
Another trader, Paul Kawanguzi, demanded a probe. “We’re tired of this cycle. Someone must be held accountable,” he said.
The disaster revived debate over Ambercourt Market’s unresolved land ownership. The market sits on land controlled by the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, preventing traders from acquiring titles or investing in permanent stalls. In addition, vendors urged President Museveni to fulfill campaign pledges to allocate the land to them.
“Every campaign season, the President promises to give us this land and help us build a permanent market,” one vendor said. “But nothing has ever materialized.”
Losses run into tens of millions of shillings, leaving traders uncertain of recovery. Consequently, many are calling for both immediate relief and a long-term redevelopment plan to secure their livelihoods.
This is not the first Ambercourt Market fire, and vendors warn it may not be the last unless government takes decisive action.
The Ambercourt Market fire highlights the vulnerability of traders to recurring disasters. For many, rebuilding will require urgent relief and long-promised redevelopment to protect their businesses and end the cycle of destruction.
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