6 South Sudanese nationals killed in fire outbreak

Wakiso, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Six children aged between two and 16 years have perished in a fire at Mulanda B, Kisubi parish, Kajjansi town council, in Wakiso district. The fire whose cause isn’t yet established razed the house of Bakita Ayang, a South Sudanese national on Wednesday morning.

Locals alerted Kisubi police station which took about two hours mobilize the fire brigade and by the time the fire was contained, the lives of six children had already been lost. Only two adult women were rescued and are currently receiving treatment at Kisubi hospital.

Luke Owoyesigyire, the deputy Kampala metropolitan police spokesperson, said locals tried their best to save the children’s lives but in vain because the fire swiftly engulfed the whole house giving neighbours no chance to save the victims.

“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.”

According to Owoyesigyire, the six bodies burnt beyond recognition were retrieved and taken to Mulago mortuary for postmortem. This was after the fire fighters dispatched by Entebbe police division eventually extinguished the fire.

“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 secured the scene and more information is being gathered to make a conclusion on the incident that has left devastating memories in the area. Police have urged the public to exercise caution and vigilance to prevent such tragedies in the future.

Every year Kampala metropolitan registers at least one tragic fire incident that kills whole family members. In the last five years, it has happened in Kasanga, Bukasa, Ndeeba, Nakulabye, Kasangati, Katwe, Makindye and Luzira. These incidents are home based, even as the country gets hit by school fires which claim lives of children in dormitories.

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