By KT Reporter
A fire that broke out in a house in Busabala last night tragically claimed the life of one person. Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police Spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire confirmed that a 3-year-old minor died and another was injured in the incident, which occurred in Kibiri B zone, Busabala, within Makindye-Ssabagabo Municipality.
Preliminary findings by Katwe Police suggest that the fire, which started at around 10:00 PM, was caused by an electrical short circuit. The three-room residential house, owned by Faridah Nabukeera, who is currently abroad, was being occupied by her sister, Magret Namwanje, and her 3-year-old nephew, Jeremiah Ssegujja, at the time of the incident.
Sadly, Jeremiah Ssegujja, the 3-year-old minor, suffocated to death while he was asleep, while his caregiver, Magret Namwanje, sustained serious injuries. The fire, which is suspected to have been sparked by either a percolator or a fridge, destroyed two rooms of the house. Only the bedroom suffered minimal damage, according to the Police report.
Police have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire and the minor’s death, according to Owoyesigyire. Authorities quickly responded, extinguished the fire, documented the scene, and transported the body to City Mortuary Mulago for a postmortem examination. Investigations are currently ongoing.
The police have urged the public to exercise extra caution during the heavy downpour, which can lead to unstable electricity and potentially cause short circuits.
The 2024 crime report revealed a rise in fire incidents, increasing from 1,104 in 2022 to 1,280 in 2024, with most occurring in homes due to electrical short circuits and unattended electrical appliances-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
