Govt probes Owino market fire
THE Government is to probe and assess the gravity of damages incurred in yesterday’s inferno at Nakivubo Park Yard market.
By Conan Businge
and Herbert Ssempogo
THE Government is to probe and assess the gravity of damages incurred in yesterday’s inferno at Nakivubo Park Yard market.
Addressing journalists at the Media Centre in Kampala yesterday, the information and national guidance minister, Kabakumba Masiko, said the cause of the fire was still unknown but investigations were going on.
The fire that gutted hundreds of stalls in the wee hours of the night, left five unidentified people seriously injured. They included three women and two men.
The Police said some were treated shock and suffocation. There were no deaths registered by press time.
The fire could be seen as far as the distant city suburbs of Kitintale, Mengo, and Kireka.
Masiko said: “The Government regrets the loss and calls upon the affected people to remain calm, as high level discussions are underway.â€
The briefing was attended by the Inspector General of Police, Kale Kayihura and ministers Matiya Kasaija (state for internal affairs), Adolf Mwesigye (local government) and Prof Tarsis Kabwegyere (disaster preparedness).
The victims alleged that the fire was deliberately started by the owners of bus companies that plan to establish a terminal in Nakivubo Stadium.
The project, earlier endorsed by the sports minister, Charles Bakabulindi, was halted early this week, following a public outcry mainly from sports lovers and the media, who want the stadium intact.
Kayihura, however, insisted that cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained.
He said the Police did the best they could in conjunction with private fire fighters, Fire Masters, to curb the fire.
Kayihura said the fire spread quickly because of the combustible materials in the market and lack access routes for vehicle into the market.
Mwesigye said the market had poor structures like wood, canvas and polythene, which complicated the rescue operation.
“My ministry will table a law on Kampala city’s special status to Cabinet next week. Kampala is going to be developed into a modern city soon and this will remove the congested and dangerous structures,†he explained.
Mwesigye said more towns in future would have fully-fledged fire fighting units.
Out of 80 districts, only eight have fire fighting trucks. The districts with facilities are Masaka, Gulu, Jinja, Tororo, Hoima, Kampala, Entebbe and Mbarara.
The ministers later inspected the market.
and Herbert Ssempogo
THE Government is to probe and assess the gravity of damages incurred in yesterday’s inferno at Nakivubo Park Yard market.
Addressing journalists at the Media Centre in Kampala yesterday, the information and national guidance minister, Kabakumba Masiko, said the cause of the fire was still unknown but investigations were going on.
The fire that gutted hundreds of stalls in the wee hours of the night, left five unidentified people seriously injured. They included three women and two men.
The Police said some were treated shock and suffocation. There were no deaths registered by press time.
The fire could be seen as far as the distant city suburbs of Kitintale, Mengo, and Kireka.
Masiko said: “The Government regrets the loss and calls upon the affected people to remain calm, as high level discussions are underway.â€
The briefing was attended by the Inspector General of Police, Kale Kayihura and ministers Matiya Kasaija (state for internal affairs), Adolf Mwesigye (local government) and Prof Tarsis Kabwegyere (disaster preparedness).
The victims alleged that the fire was deliberately started by the owners of bus companies that plan to establish a terminal in Nakivubo Stadium.
The project, earlier endorsed by the sports minister, Charles Bakabulindi, was halted early this week, following a public outcry mainly from sports lovers and the media, who want the stadium intact.
Kayihura, however, insisted that cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained.
He said the Police did the best they could in conjunction with private fire fighters, Fire Masters, to curb the fire.
Kayihura said the fire spread quickly because of the combustible materials in the market and lack access routes for vehicle into the market.
Mwesigye said the market had poor structures like wood, canvas and polythene, which complicated the rescue operation.
“My ministry will table a law on Kampala city’s special status to Cabinet next week. Kampala is going to be developed into a modern city soon and this will remove the congested and dangerous structures,†he explained.
Mwesigye said more towns in future would have fully-fledged fire fighting units.
Out of 80 districts, only eight have fire fighting trucks. The districts with facilities are Masaka, Gulu, Jinja, Tororo, Hoima, Kampala, Entebbe and Mbarara.
The ministers later inspected the market.