Business thrives amidst calamity

Mr Mafabi and Mr Richard Khaukha have been humble carpenters making coffins at Shs20,000 but the landslide catastrophe brought to them a fortune that saw them increase the prices of their coffins to Shs60,000 due to overwhelming demand.

Bududa

Although many people are saddened by the loss of their dear ones in the disastrous landslide that left hundreds of people buried at Nametsi village, a section of the people have made a fortune.

When the government yesterday released Shs35 million to Bududa District to organise decent burial of the victims, it was Mr Robert Mafabi who smiled after the district announced that they would buy coffins from him.

Reaping big
Mr Mafabi and Mr Richard Khaukha have been humble carpenters making coffins at Shs20,000 but the landslide catastrophe brought to them a fortune that saw them increase the prices of their coffins to Shs60,000 due to overwhelming demand.

“Although we have been selling coffins, we had never sold 25 coffins in a single day until this tragedy befell us. It is sad, we share the sadness with the bereaved families but at the same time it comes as a blessing to us because we have about Shs1.5 million in just a single day, this is a miracle,” said Mr Mafabi

Mr Khaukha told Daily Monitor that although they were not paid cash for the coffins, they are sure of moving to another level of business when they are paid the money by the district.
“We did not expect this but it came like any other blessing God can bring to their people. We are thankful to God but at the same time saddened that we have lost our brothers, sisters, parents and children in the landslide,” he said.

Busy hotels
In Mbale, hotel managers have also made money after aid agencies and journalists poured into Bududa to provide relief and report about the tragedy.

The Manager of Hotel Eldima, Mr Thomas Kintu in Mbale said the town is not always filled up with visitors.

“My hotel rooms are usually half-filled with visiotors, but since the tragedy struck, aid agencies have filled the town, all hotels have been full and I think by the time they go away we shall have made some money,” said Mr Kintu.

Mr Lawrence Kinyua, the manager of Mbale Resort Hotel, said although it is a sad moment where people have lost lives, it is also a moment of making fortunes for hotels.

“We have actually had the best time. Business has boomed here but at the same time we are mourning with our brothers and sisters about the loss of life at Namesti,” said Mr Kinyua. The aid agencies in Bududa include, Unicef, Catholic Relief Services, Food Agricultural Organisation,World Health Organisation, Adventist Development & Relief Agency, Red Cross.
Others are World Food Programme, Save the Children Fund, Oxfam, United Nations Development Programme, Caritas, UN OCHA and USAID.