By Our Reporter
In a heartbreaking incident that has sent shockwaves through the Mulanda B community in Kisubi parish, Kajjansi town council, Wakiso district, six children, aged between 2 and 16, lost their lives in a devastating house fire.
The fire, which ravaged the home of Bakita Ayang, a South Sudanese national, occurred in the early hours of Wednesday morning, leaving the entire community reeling in grief. Despite frantic efforts by locals to save the children, the inferno engulfed the house with such intensity that rescuers were unable to reach the victims in time.
Luke Owoyesigyire, the deputy spokesperson for Kampala Metropolitan Police, described the tragic sequence of events: “At approximately 1 am in Mulanda B, Kisubi, police received a distress call from a community member. The fire had already consumed the residence of Bakita Ayang, where six children were trapped. Despite valiant efforts by community members, the children were unable to escape the blaze.”
The bodies of the six children, tragically burnt beyond recognition, were recovered and transported to Mulago mortuary for postmortem examinations. The two adult women who managed to survive the ordeal are currently receiving medical attention at Kisubi hospital.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire originated from an electronic kettle left unattended in the sitting room, connected to a socket. However, authorities have emphasized that further inquiries will be conducted to ascertain the exact cause of the blaze.
The response to the fire was delayed, with locals reportedly alerting Kisubi police station, which took approximately two hours to mobilize the fire brigade. By the time firefighters dispatched by Entebbe police division arrived at the scene, the flames had already claimed the lives of the innocent children.
This tragic incident serves as a grim reminder of the importance of fire safety measures and community preparedness in preventing such devastating losses. The police have urged the public to exercise caution and vigilance, especially regarding the use of household appliances, to avert similar tragedies in the future.
The Mulanda B community, along with the wider Wakiso district, mourns the loss of these young lives and stands in solidarity with the grieving families. As investigations continue, the hope is that lessons will be learned, and proactive measures implemented to prevent such heartbreaking incidents from occurring again.