Wakiso, Uganda | By Michael Wandati | A tragic fire in Mulanda B, Kisubi parish, Kajjansi town council, Wakiso district, has claimed the lives of six South Sudanese children aged between 2 and 16 years.
The horrific fire, which broke out on Wednesday 15, May 2024 morning in the home of Bakita Ayang, a South Sudanese national, remains under investigation as its cause is yet to be determined.
Locals promptly alerted the Kisubi police station, but it took approximately two hours to mobilize the fire brigade. Unfortunately, by the time the mysterious fire was brought under control, the six children had already perished.
Two adult women were rescued from the house and are currently receiving treatment at Kisubi Hospital.
According to Luke Owoyesigyire, the deputy spokesperson for Kampala metropolitan police, despite the locals’ efforts to save the children, the fire spread too quickly, engulfing the house and leaving no opportunity for rescue.
“A tragic fire outbreak occurred in Mulanda B, Kisubi, resulting in the loss of six young lives,” Owoyesigyire explained.
“It was approximately 1 am in Mulanda B, Kisubi when police received a distress call from a community member. The fire had engulfed the residence of Bakita Ayang, where six children were trapped. Despite efforts by community members to rescue them, the children, aged between 2 and 16, succumbed to the fire,” he added.
According to Luke Owoyesigyire, the six bodies, burned beyond recognition, were retrieved and taken to Mulago Mortuary for postmortem. This occurred after firefighters from the Entebbe police division were able to eventually extinguish the fire.
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“Initial observations suggest that the fire originated from an electronic kettle left unattended in the sitting room, connected to a socket,” Owoyesigyire said. “Further inquiries will be conducted to determine the exact cause of the fire.”
Police have cordoned off the scene and are gathering more information to determine the cause of the fire that has left the community in shock. Authorities have urged the public to exercise caution and vigilance to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Each year, the Kampala metropolitan area registers at least one tragic fire that results in the loss of entire families. Over the past five years, such incidents have occurred in Kasanga, Bukasa, Ndeeba, Nakulabye, Kasangati, Katwe, Makindye, and Luzira.
While these incidents typically happen in homes, the country also faces school fires that claim the lives of children in dormitories.
