By Ronald D. Kato

Buyaga West Member of Parliament Barnabas Tinkasiimire has been discharged from Mulago national referral hospital where he was admitted last night.

Tinkasimire was admitted after fainting upon seeing his ex-wife who sustained severe burns when the MP’s house in Mukono was torched.   

The house, located at Ham Mukasa village in Mukono municipality, was lit in the wee hours of Tuesday by suspected arsonists.

Journalists spent Wednesday morning pleading with hospital staff to access the MP whose security was beefed up.

Tinkasiimire said that his ex-wife is still in critical condition since 70 percent of her body got burnt; she cannot talk or eat

Petrol and pepper

The officer in charge of Bweyogerere fire brigade station, Fred Sserwanga said the arsonists used petrol and pepper to ignite the fire.

Another victim of the early morning blaze was 18-year-old Caroline Awino – said to be a relative of the MP’s wife.

"We recovered empty jerricans which had traces of petrol and packets of pepper," said Sserwanga.

"It seems the pepper was used to suffocate the victims and the fuel to ignite the fire."

The area LCI chairman, Moses Mulindwa said the residents heard a big explosion and upon investigation they saw the house on fire.

"By the time we reached the scene, the victims had dashed out of the house and so we had them rushed them to Namirembe Health Centre IV," Mulindwa reported.

"We then embarked on fighting the fire until 30 minutes later when the police reinforced the rescue operation."

Mukono district Police commander, Ashiraf Chemonges Seiko said that by press time, no suspectss had been arrested.

Family attack

When he regained consciousness after receiving first aid, Tinkasimire was all tears.

"I have not done anything beyond my jurisdiction.  I live in the city and by the law like any other Ugandan. But you choose to visit my house and burn it down when all my family is inside? Who does that?” he questioned.

In what seems like an attack on his family, the legislator asked for protection from the police.

He said the Tuesday attackers also broke into his brother's house.

"So, I don't know which house or relative of mine they are targeting now. I am a young man and I don't want to lose my property just like that.”

It is said the Tinkasimire recently received death threats following an order by the parliamentary committee on presidential affairs – which he leads – to demolish illegal structures in Kampala.

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