Kampala reels from multiple fire outbreaks that leave one dead

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The Kampala Metropolitan Area experienced a series of fire outbreaks between November 14 and 15, 2025, leaving one child dead, destroying property and stretching emergency crews across the city.

Police and fire authorities said the incidents reflect a growing pattern of fire emergencies that continue to overwhelm response teams in heavily congested suburbs.

The earliest incident occurred on Saturday at 2:30 am when a residential house in Ndejje, Ssabagabo division, caught fire, killing a female juvenile, Kelisa Nalungwa. Police suspect arson by unknown persons and opened an inquiry under reference SD 04/15/11/2025 Ndejje Police Station.

Two hours later, at 4:30 am, another fire broke out at Umber House on Kampala Road, destroying office files. Firefighters dispatched two trucks to the scene, and the cause remains undetermined. The case was recorded under SD 11/15/11/2025 Fire Kampala.

At 10:50am the same day, a fire incident at Bugolobi Flats prompted the deployment of two fire tenders and a 999 unit. Firefighters managed to contain the flames before they spread further.

Later, at 8:45pm on 15 November 2025, fire gutted several makeshift structures used as homes in the Wandegeya–Katanga area. Fire brigade teams extinguished the blaze, although significant property damage was reported. The incident was entered under SD 28/14/11/2025.

In a separate emergency, a Volvo vehicle, registration UBN 793U, caught fire at 11:00pm along Kansanga–Kiwafu Road. Police said the engine sustained severe damage, with initial findings indicating a short circuit caused by faulty wiring. The case was registered under SD 39/15/11/2025 Fire Kampala.

The weekend’s sequence of fire outbreaks echoed earlier warnings issued by the Director of Fire and Rescue Services, AIGP Stephen Tanui. Speaking in February during the release of the 2024 Annual Crime Report at Police Headquarters in Naguru, Tanui revealed that Kampala Metropolitan recorded the highest number of fire incidents in the country, with 993 cases in 2024.

Tanui said firefighting efforts remain constrained by urban congestion and poor planning. “You find a fire breaking out in a congested suburb where access is blocked. It may take five minutes to get there, but hours to put it out because of the obstacles.”

According to the report, the Central region registered the highest number of fire occurrences at 24 percent of all cases, followed by Nakawa at 13 percent, Rubaga at 7 percent and Kawempe at 32 percent. Wakiso, Entebbe, Mukono and Mpigi also recorded significant numbers.

He warned that Uganda’s rapid urbanisation would increase fire incidents unless deliberate prevention measures are adopted. “We must plan heavily for fire prevention rather than just responding to outbreaks. Emergency response is crucial, but preventing these fires in the first place is what really saves lives.”

Police have urged residents to remain vigilant, prioritise electrical safety and report suspicious activity as investigations into the weekend fires continue.