Police renew fire safety warnings after tragic death of infant in Magamaga

KAMPALA - The Police have issued a renewed appeal to the public to prioritise fire and child safety during the ongoing school holiday season.

The Monday, September 1, 2025, call follows a tragic fire incident that claimed the life of a five-month-old baby in Magamaga Town Council, Mayuge district.

Speaking during the weekly joint security briefing at Naguru in Kampala city, Police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma said the tragedy underscores the importance of heeding public safety advisories, particularly as children remain at home during the holidays.

“On August 18, we sat right here in this boardroom, and I gave an advisory on children’s safety during the holidays,” Kituuma said. “Unfortunately, just 12 days later, we have registered a heartbreaking incident that speaks exactly to the dangers I warned about.”

According to Police, the parents of the infant had left both the five-month-old and a four-year-old unattended in the house. The older child reportedly accessed a matchbox left within reach and accidentally started a fire. By the time neighbours noticed and tried to intervene, it was too late.

“We managed to put out the fire, but we could not save Kauda Rashid, the five-month-old juvenile,” Kituuma revealed. 

“This is a painful reminder of what we keep repeating: do not leave children unattended, especially around hazardous materials like candles, matchboxes, or stoves.”

He stressed that such tragedies are avoidable if the public takes Police advisories seriously.

“Out of a population of 46 million, there may only be a few who still need to hear this. That’s why we come here every Monday to speak.

Please bear with us when we repeat these messages—they are for your own safety,” he added, urging parents and guardians to never leave young children unattended, especially during this school break.

“This incident in Magamaga is unfortunate and tragic, but it must serve as a wake-up call to all communities across the country,” Kitiuuma concluded. “We can prevent these losses if we all stay alert and follow basic safety measures.”

Businesses owners urged

Police also used the opportunity to call on businesses, especially those in industrial areas, to ensure their premises are equipped with functional firefighting systems.

“If you run a factory or any high-risk business, don’t go to bed until you’ve confirmed that your premises have firefighting equipment that matches the scale of your operation,” said Kitiuuma.

“These fires are becoming more frequent, and in most cases, our preliminary findings show that the buildings have no equipment at all.”

Beyond the lack of firefighting equipment, other challenges hindering police response during fire emergencies include poor urban planning, inaccessible roads, and delayed reporting due to communication gaps.

“People often don’t have police or fire brigade contacts saved. When the fire starts, it takes them too long to reach us,” he noted. “In some places, our fire trucks cannot even access the premises due to the disorganised way urban settlements are built.”

Recurring danger

On August 15, 2025, three young girls died in a house fire in Mpala Cell, Katabi Town Council, Wakiso district.

The victims were identified as Namiru Ellah, 12; Amani Namulema, 5 and Namujju Tamale, 3.

The tragedy occurred in the early hours of August 15, 2025, morning, when the children were at home alone. Their mother, Nalubwama Julie, had reportedly left them unattended while their father, Kavuma Lenon, was away in Jinja for work.

“The fire broke out at about 1:00 am and was reported to the Police by the local LC1 chairperson. Our Fire and Rescue Services responded promptly and managed to extinguish the blaze,” Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy Spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire said then.

He reported that two of the bodies were recovered outside the burnt house, while the third was found inside, burnt beyond recognition.

Recent Incidents

On July 27, 2025, the Police in Hoima city responded to a fire in Kiryatete East cell, southern ward. The blaze, which broke out in a commercial building at about 1:05pm, was contained by the fire brigade. Some rooms were saved, but others, along with household property, were damaged.

Two days earlier, on July 25, a fire broke out at the Hima Cement Factory in Karungibaati cell, Kasese district, after workers noticed flames on a conveyor belt.

Police were called and managed to contain the fire before it spread.

On July 22, security guards at Kiboko Enterprises’ warehouse in Kasanvu Zone, Kampala, spotted smoke coming from the rooftop. Firefighters responded swiftly, but the fire still caused extensive damage to the warehouse. Fortunately, no lives were lost.
Call for vigilance
On Monday, Police urged families, businesses, and local leaders to take fire safety seriously and ensure both preventive measures and emergency contacts are in place.
“We can’t afford to lose more lives because of negligence or lack of preparedness,” said Kitiuuma. “Let us all play our part in keeping our communities safe.”