Eng Kazibwe's Shop Is Gutted

May 06, 2001

ANOTHER fire yesterday razed a hardware shop and offices for engineer Charles Kazibwe on Snay Bin Amir street, Kampala, destroying property worth millions of shillings.

By Geoffrey Kamali ANOTHER fire yesterday razed a hardware shop and offices for engineer Charles Kazibwe on Snay Bin Amir street, Kampala, destroying property worth millions of shillings. Kazibwe, who was the main occupant with five sub-tenants in his shop, Widco Enterprises, is the husband to the Vice-President, Dr. Specioza Kazibwe. The Police said they suspected "intentional burning" but that the arsonists could have also carried away unspecified amount of property. This is the third such incident in less than a week. The Police said the cause of two previous fires was electrical failure while the latest was by burglars. The building, housing two offices, a store-room and hardware shop, is owned by the management of the Hindu Temple, located next to it. Tenants yesterday said the building was dangerous and they were risking their lives. Witnesses, however, said the fire, which started at about 6.00am, could have been started by burglars, who also stole some unspecified merchandise. "They cut through the door and also broke the cash safe but we understand there had been no money in it. "It appears they became angry and set the shop on fire," said Abu Baker Kasule, one of the sub-tenants. Police fire fighters reportedly arrived at the scene in about 20 minutes and battled the huge inferno for an hour. Most of the merchandise, which included white terrazo cement, glassware, louvre frames and tiles, was destroyed. "The damage was minimal but most of the merchandise was damaged by the effect of the heat, otherwise, the whole building would be down," Mr. Lawrence Adima, the acting chief fire officer said. On Friday, a fire razed a facility for the disabled persons at Mulago hospital, destroying stationery, machines and documents compiled since 1986. Ends

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