The Kabaka of Buganda, His Majesty Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II, on Tuesday made an unannounced visit to Katwe Market to stand in solidarity with hundreds of traders whose livelihoods were reduced to ashes by a fierce midnight fire.
The fire which broke out at approximately midnight on Monday, tore through the densely packed stalls and kiosks of one of Kampala’s oldest trading hubs, destroying property and merchandise worth millions of shillings.
Walking through the charred remains of the market, the Kabaka inspected the extent of the damage, pausing frequently to offer words of comfort to distraught traders. Many of the affected business owners, who have lost both their stock and entire working capital, broke down in tears as they recounted the tragedy to the monarch.
Following his tour of the ruins, the Kabaka proceeded to St. Paul’s Cathedral, Namirembe, where he attended a special prayer service at the Hannington Chapel.
While the Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP) has launched a formal inquiry, preliminary accounts from the ground point toward a failing infrastructure.
Traders have pointed to old power poles and an increasingly unstable electricity supply as the likely spark for the electrical fault and once the fire started in a single kiosk, it rapidly engulfed the wooden structures that characterize much of the market.
The KMP Spokesperson Racheal Kawala urged the public to remain calm while investigations continue, though local leaders noted that narrow access roads significantly hampered the Fire Brigade’s ability to reach the heart of the blaze in time.
Buganda Kingdom kabaka after touring katwe market traders today wangala ayii beene 😘😘 pic.twitter.com/WDFihPHgcs
— Nicolas Balo (@nicolas_balo2) March 17, 2026
