Fire guts 21 market structures at Mpondwe border

What the report says

Police in Kasese District are investigating a fire that destroyed 21 makeshift market structures at Mpondwe Cross-Border Market in Mpondwe-Lhubiriha Town Council. According to Nile Post, the blaze broke out on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at about 2:36pm and quickly spread through the busy border market, causing panic among vendors.

Fire Prevention and Rescue Services, working with officers from Bwera Police Division, responded to the scene and put out the fire before it could reach neighbouring stalls. Rwenzori East Regional Police spokesperson ASP Elly Maate said the destroyed structures belonged to different vendors. No deaths or injuries were reported, but traders lost property worth millions of shillings, the report said.

Police said preliminary findings point to possible negligence, with investigators considering whether a charcoal stove was left unattended inside one of the rooms. The cause has not been formally confirmed, and inquiries are continuing to identify all affected vendors and assess the full value of the damage.

The incident highlights the vulnerability of crowded market centres, where closely packed temporary structures and cooking equipment can increase fire risk. Such markets are often important trading points for cross-border commerce in western Uganda, making disruptions especially significant for small-scale traders and the surrounding community.