By Mike Rwothomio

Zombo: A Ravaging Fire has destroyed properties worth over UGX200 million along Ofaka Road, Central Ward, Paidha Town Council, Zombo District.

The affected business community of Paidha town said the fire that started in the wee hours of September 12, 2023, and wildly spread to other places.

Hundreds of battle-scarred Community members stood in awe with hands on their heads to witness the burning of more than six spacious and metallic kiosks that got razed by a stroke of a pen.

Teary Jimmy Ozelle, a dealer in motorcycle spare parts told The Standard that he had lost all he had worked for for over 10 years.
“I was at home by the time the fire started, I didn’t have electricity in my metallic kiosk but was called late at around 12:35 am that our Properties were on fire, I came here and got everything razed. He explained before adding ” I lost a stock of over Ugx 80 million and a cash of Ugx 15 million”.

Another affected businessman who operates a wholesale shop called Mansur Awule said he lost stock of UGX 50 million and an unspecified amount of cash. He pleaded for support from NGOs and well-wishers.

Another businessman only identified as Sabili explained that he had a stock of over Ugx 80 million and at least some properties amounting to nearly Ugx 10 million got rescued.

By press time, there was no clear firm lead about the cause of the fire and Police from Paidha Central Police Station were at the crime scene to commence investigations.

The case of arson is registered under SD REF:20/12/09/2023.

Meanwhile, this is not the first time Paidha has faced a fire outbreak. Recently, a ravaging fire destroyed offices of the Padea business community with properties worth millions of shillings.

Relatedly, a local restaurant in Paidha Town Council was recently razed to ashes after a fire started from a nearby kiosk.