News
Three fire incidents destroy property in Mbale, Bududa and Lwengo
Kituuma said preliminary findings by police fire experts indicate that the fire may have originated from an overheated solar power system.
Police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma addressing the media at the police headquarters in Naguru on Monday, June 15, 2026. (Credit: Mpalanyi Sssentongo)
By: Simon Masaba, Journalist @New Vision
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Police have expressed concern over the increasing number of fire outbreaks in different parts of the country, saying many property owners are failing to equip their premises with basic firefighting equipment, which results into avoidable losses.
Addressing journalists on Monday, police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma cited three recent fire incidents in Mbale, Bududa and Lwengo districts as examples of how delayed responses and lack of elementary firefighting tools continue to worsen fire disasters.
One of the incidents occurred on June 10 at Walwalwa Cell in Industrial Division, Mbale City, where a fire broke out and destroyed several metallic kiosks.
According to police, the blaze consumed timber, beverages, refrigerators and other merchandise before firefighters could bring it under control.
“Our fire brigade responded, but by the time the information reached us, the fire was already in an advanced stage, and a lot of property had been destroyed,” Kituuma said.
Police have not yet established the exact cause of the Mbale fire.
In another incident on June 9, a fire broke out at the administration block of Bududa Hospital.
The fire was first detected by a senior nursing officer, who alerted hospital administrators.
Unlike many other fire incidents, hospital staff quickly deployed available firefighting equipment and managed to contain the blaze before it spread extensively.
“Our fire brigade responded, but by the time the information reached us, the fire was already in an advanced stage, and a lot of property had been destroyed,” Kituuma said.
Police have not yet established the exact cause of the Mbale fire.
In another incident on June 9, a fire broke out at the administration block of Bududa Hospital.
The fire was first detected by a senior nursing officer, who alerted hospital administrators.
Unlike many other fire incidents, hospital staff quickly deployed available firefighting equipment and managed to contain the blaze before it spread extensively.
Kituuma said preliminary findings by police fire experts indicate that the fire may have originated from an overheated solar power system.
“The hospital had firefighting equipment and managed to put up a good fight before police arrived. That is exactly what we encourage people to do because the first response is always critical,” he said.
The third incident was recorded on June 13 in Lwengo District, where fire gutted a store containing coffee, poultry feeds and other merchandise.
Police said the fire caused significant losses, with residents largely unable to contain the blaze before emergency responders arrived.
Kituuma used the incidents to urge business owners, institutions and homeowners to invest in basic firefighting equipment such as fire extinguishers, saying many fires begin as small incidents that can be controlled before spreading.
“Some of these fires start with a loss as little as sh200,000 worth of property, but because there is no immediate intervention, they end up destroying millions or even billions of shillings,” he said, adding; “Just as people install burglar-proofing and other security measures to protect their property, they should also invest in firefighting equipment. A fire extinguisher should be considered an emergency requirement.”
The police spokesperson warned that negligence in fire preparedness not only leads to destruction of property but can also result in loss of life.
Kituuma said police will continue conducting public awareness campaigns on fire prevention and emergency response as investigations into the three incidents continue.
No fatalities were reported in any of the three fires. However, authorities are still assessing the extent of property losses and investigating the causes of the outbreaks.
“The hospital had firefighting equipment and managed to put up a good fight before police arrived. That is exactly what we encourage people to do because the first response is always critical,” he said.
The third incident was recorded on June 13 in Lwengo District, where fire gutted a store containing coffee, poultry feeds and other merchandise.
Police said the fire caused significant losses, with residents largely unable to contain the blaze before emergency responders arrived.
Kituuma used the incidents to urge business owners, institutions and homeowners to invest in basic firefighting equipment such as fire extinguishers, saying many fires begin as small incidents that can be controlled before spreading.
“Some of these fires start with a loss as little as sh200,000 worth of property, but because there is no immediate intervention, they end up destroying millions or even billions of shillings,” he said, adding; “Just as people install burglar-proofing and other security measures to protect their property, they should also invest in firefighting equipment. A fire extinguisher should be considered an emergency requirement.”
The police spokesperson warned that negligence in fire preparedness not only leads to destruction of property but can also result in loss of life.
Kituuma said police will continue conducting public awareness campaigns on fire prevention and emergency response as investigations into the three incidents continue.
No fatalities were reported in any of the three fires. However, authorities are still assessing the extent of property losses and investigating the causes of the outbreaks.