Two toddlers burnt to death
TWO toddlers in Wakiso town died in an inferno on Monday night when fire broke out in their bedroom. They are two-year-old Joel Kiyingi and a one-month-old baby identified as Jemima.
By Nicholas Kajoba
TWO toddlers in Wakiso town died in an inferno on Monday night when fire broke out in their bedroom. They are two-year-old Joel Kiyingi and a one-month-old baby identified as Jemima.
Their sibling, Elly Bbosa, 4, escaped with injuries on the left hand.
Juliet Bagalya, the children’s mother, had left them in the bedroom as she went to buy drugs.
The children’s father, Enock Bagalya, left for work in South Sudan last month.
Michael Kintu, a neighbour, said Kiyingi tried to escape but tripped and his body was found stuck at the door.
Sylvia Nalwanga, another neighbour, said Bbosa tried to rescue his siblings, but neighbours stopped him.
“The young boy ran out when he saw the bed burning. He called neighbours for help. But most of them stayed far away,†she said.
She said some neighbours tried to rescue the children, but it was too late.
“Bagalya returned after about 20 minutes from the drug shop and found her children had died in the inferno. She fainted immediately and we took her to Namungoona health centre for treatment,†Nalwanga narrated.
Michael Mutebi, a neighbour who is said to have been the first to arrive at the scene, said: “Most of us came to rescue the children but found the fire had spread and burnt all the bedding and the children had died.â€
Mutebi said they suspect the fire was caused by a candle.
“We suspect the mother left the candle burning and the children knocked on it as they were playing in their bedroom,†he said.
TWO toddlers in Wakiso town died in an inferno on Monday night when fire broke out in their bedroom. They are two-year-old Joel Kiyingi and a one-month-old baby identified as Jemima.
Their sibling, Elly Bbosa, 4, escaped with injuries on the left hand.
Juliet Bagalya, the children’s mother, had left them in the bedroom as she went to buy drugs.
The children’s father, Enock Bagalya, left for work in South Sudan last month.
Michael Kintu, a neighbour, said Kiyingi tried to escape but tripped and his body was found stuck at the door.
Sylvia Nalwanga, another neighbour, said Bbosa tried to rescue his siblings, but neighbours stopped him.
“The young boy ran out when he saw the bed burning. He called neighbours for help. But most of them stayed far away,†she said.
She said some neighbours tried to rescue the children, but it was too late.
“Bagalya returned after about 20 minutes from the drug shop and found her children had died in the inferno. She fainted immediately and we took her to Namungoona health centre for treatment,†Nalwanga narrated.
Michael Mutebi, a neighbour who is said to have been the first to arrive at the scene, said: “Most of us came to rescue the children but found the fire had spread and burnt all the bedding and the children had died.â€
Mutebi said they suspect the fire was caused by a candle.
“We suspect the mother left the candle burning and the children knocked on it as they were playing in their bedroom,†he said.