By David Okema
Over ten timber dealers in Gulu town are in tears after a Tuesday morning fire whose cause is yet to be established gutted their business, destroying property and merchandise worth millions of shillings.
The traders’ premises are located opposite Palema Hotel, just as one enters Gulu town.
One of the traders, Justin Mwaka was in shock when he spoke to Acholi Times. Mwaka who had a timber store and heavy duty timber machines said he had lost around 250 million shillings worth of timber and equipment.
“I am wondering if this fire was started by anybody. I am stranded and speechless,’’ said a crestfallen Mwaka.
The timber dealer said he was called around 2:00 am Tuesday morning about the fire and he immediately rushed to his business premises but found nothing of what was his timber and equipment.
Boniface Ojok, owner of Doctor Battery charging and Repair, a computer repairer and charger of car batteries said the cause of the fire is still unknown.
Ojok whose shop and including computers and batteries were destroyed in the fire said police was called for rescue but it was not easy for fire fighters to put off the blazing fire.
At the time of the fire, Ojok told Acholi Times, electricity was still on.
“Umeme delayed to cut off power line and this made it difficult to put off the fire. Umeme cut off electricity at nearly 5:00am when property had already been burnt, “said Ojok.
He said he lost property worth over 25millions shilling.
Jimmy Patrick Okema, the Aswa region police spokesperson said police got reports of the fire at 1:10 am and rushed to the scene but the fire was so intense that firemen struggled to put it off, said Okema.
The police spokesman said the cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained.
