LUCKY PATRICK
Business owners who lost their property in a fire that gutted their kiosks in Kisenyi Fort Portal tourism city in February 2022, yesterday received relief of 15 million Shillings from the government of Uganda to help them recover from the losses.
About the fire
On February 18, fire gutted several Kiosks in Kisenyi Cell, Central Division during night hours. The fire burnt merchandise, fridges, electronics, timber workshops, and motorcycle spare parts shops, among other items worth millions of shillings.
The fire, first gutted wooden structures that included carpentry and timber shops, before it spread to several makeshift houses.
Government intervenes
While handing over the 15 million cheque, Richard Muhumuza, the Mayor Fort Portal central division, revealed that the money is meant to help the business owners put back their respective businesses.
Muhumuza, also informed the business people that council had also resolved to grant a grace period to the victims for the financial year 2022/2023 not pay council taxes, as a way of helping them first put their businesses back together.
Gerevazio Kyalimpa, the chairperson of Rwegoma A3 carpentry Association, a group that brings together the business owners who were affected by the fire, thanked the leaders of Fort Portal city especially Hon. Linda Irene the woman MP Fort Portal city, for having lobbied the money from the government.
The victims, had previously received 100 iron sheets from Alice Kaboyo, the State Minister for Luweero-Triangle and Rwenzori Region who visited the scene a few days after the incident.
Kyalimpa, asked the leaders to expedite the plans to relocate them from Kisenyi to Haburaho Trading Center, where the council had resolved to take them.
His concern is of Kisenyi their current location being overcrowded, and that in case of another fire accident, their business will still be reduced to ashes.
