In early Monday morning hours, fire broke out and destroyed stalls, workshops, and merchandise in one of the city’s busiest surbubs of Katwe and Nsambya neighborhoods with food vendors and metalworkers.
Police firefighters contained the blaze before it spread further, with no injuries reported, though traders sifted through ashes Monday morning, mourning heavy losses. Authorities are investigating the cause amid suspicions of sabotage from some traders, while police urge better electrical wiring and fire safety measures following a rise in Kampala market fires, including 993 in the region last year.
The source/cause of the fire has not been officially determined yet. Authorities, including the Uganda Police (Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Rachael Kawala), have stated that investigations are ongoing to establish the exact cause and assess the full extent of the damage.
Scene of crime officers visited the site in the morning for further assessment.Some eyewitness accounts and trader suspicions point to a possible electrical fault (e.g., sparking from electricity wires connected to a video hall, or inconsistencies in power connections around 10pm).
However, these remain unconfirmed speculations at this stage, and no official confirmation has been released.
The blaze destroyed multiple stalls, merchandise (including vehicles in some reports), and left many traders counting heavy losses in a densely packed market area known for metal workshops, retail, and other small businesses.
Firefighters from the Uganda Police Fire and Rescue Services responded to contain it and prevent wider spread.
Katwe market is on fire pic.twitter.com/H6Zcpiihm8
— THE ÁĹĹÀŃ ĆÓÚÑŤÝ 🇺🇬 (@AllanSseky) March 16, 2026
