Police probe suspected arson at Mzee Magala’s home in Luweero
Kituuma said officers rushed to the scene and managed to extinguish the fire before it could spread to other structures within the compound, although substantial damage had already been caused to the property.
Police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma said officers extinguished the fire before it spread, although the property sustained substantial damage. (File)
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Police have launched investigations into suspected arson after a fire gutted the home of Aggrey Balikyewunya Magala, a social media personality known for conducting interviews on digital platforms, in Bunyaka village, Luweero district.
The fire broke out at about 3:00am on Sunday, November 8, prompting a police response after officers received information that a residential house was burning.
Police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma said officers rushed to the scene and managed to extinguish the fire before it could spread to other structures within the compound, although substantial damage had already been caused to the property.
Addressing journalists at the Police headquarters in Naguru, Kampala, today (November 9), Kituuma said the house belonged to Magala also known as Mzee Magala, who was not at the premises when the incident occurred because he was in prison on remand.
Kituuma dismissed reports that Magala was being held in police cells at the time of the incident, clarifying that; "he had already been remanded to prison by court."
"Magala appeared in court on November 5, three days before the fire, in connection with a land-related dispute in which injuries were reportedly sustained," Kituuma explained.
He said an attempted murder charge had been preferred against Magala, leading to his remand in prison.
Kituuma, however, cautioned against linking the land-related case to the fire, saying the two matters were separate and that investigators were yet to establish what caused the blaze.
“The information that came out was that there were allegations that it was an arson. The family also makes those allegations. So, that has prompted us to investigate the matter along those lines,” Kituuma said.
He said police would establish the specific cause of the fire and determine whether it was accidental or deliberate.
Kituuma added that if investigations established that the fire was an act of arson, police would pursue those responsible.
"We shall provide an update once sufficient information has been gathered from our investigations," he assured the public.
Kituuma urged the public to avoid speculation as investigations continue, saying police would communicate their findings once they have established the facts surrounding the incident.