Fire guts Nsambya youth centre hall

Apr 10, 2011

PROPERTY worth millions of shillings was destroyed on Friday when fire gutted the staff quarters at Nsambya sharing youth centre in Kampala.

By Pascal Kwesiga

PROPERTY worth millions of shillings was destroyed on Friday when fire gutted the staff quarters at Nsambya sharing youth centre in Kampala.

The fire, which broke out at 1:30pm, started from the last floor of the hall, destroying property in three rooms of lecturers who reside at the institute.

There was a stampede as students of Nsambya vocational institute and staff members struggled to rescue property on the ground and first floors.

They were, however, overwhelmed by the smoke that was bellowing from the rooms.

Property lost in the fire included computers, television sets, mattresses, radio sets and academic documents.

The fire was put out by the police fire fighters, who arrived when it had destroyed the last floor and was spreading to other parts of the building.

Hassan Kihanda, the brigade’s deputy fire officer, said the cause of the fire could not easily be established since the rooms had been completely damaged.

Kihanda added that they were informed late but managed to save the building and some property.

Steven Ssenyondo, a carpenter, said they failed to access the last floor because of the heavy smoke that engulfed it.

Denis Kingore, one of the lecturers, said all his household items were burnt to ashes except a few documents, which he found floating on water that was used to put out the fire.

Rev. Father George Okwi, the centre’s director, said the hall and the staff quarters had been renovated recently.

Nsambya sharing youth centre houses a vocational school, public library, recreational facilities and a UNEB centre for Senior Four and Senior Six students.

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