City explosion kills two in Kisenyi

Nov 08, 2008

TWO people died on spot and three others sustained serious injuries when an explosion occurred in Kisenyi, a Kampala slum yesterday.

y Patrick Jaramogi
and Chris Kiwawulo

TWO people died on spot and three others sustained serious injuries when an explosion occurred in Kisenyi, a Kampala slum yesterday.

Panic gripped the residents of Kikajjo zone in Kisenyi when the explosion let off a loud bang at around 2:30pm, shortly after a brief down pour. The scene of the blast is located about 100 metres off Mwanga II Road in Kisenyi.

Old Kampala Police chief Moses Mwanga, who described the explosion as an “accident,” identified the dead as Dominique Oloka and James Omollo Amonya. “Their bodies were shattered and have been taken to the city mortuary.”

Mwanga also identified the injured as Livingstone Engola, Christopher Aliganyire and a lady, Maureen Tuhairwe, who was cooking food in a nearby shack. “The injured have been rushed to Mulago hospital where they are receiving treatment,” he said.

A combination of officials from all security agencies led by Police chief Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, rushed to the scene shortly after the blast that caused tension in the soggy area largely inhabited by Somali refugees.

The explosion brought business to a sudden halt in the slum that is synonymous with metal works. “It sounded like a tyre of a lorry had burst,” said Hassan Roble, who was near the scene at the time of the blast.

Whereas residents and Kampala Central MP Erias Lukwago alleged that the explosive was a bomb and asked the Police to take the matter seriously, Kayihura dismissed their claims.

Quoting preliminary reports from bomb experts at the scene, Kayihura said: “This was not a bomb. It was a metal that exploded due to much pressure as the fabricators were doing their work.”

Kayihura noted that scrap dealers did not mind about what they buy as long as it is scrap, adding that this puts them at the risk of importing explosive metals. He, however, said investigations into the matter would continue.

The residents led by Kakajjo zone defence secretary Godfrey Kasiita said the scrap dealers buy their raw materials from as far as southern Sudan.

Kayihura said the Police would start regulating scrap importation, adding that explosives had become a common occurrence in scrap. “We need to work together so that we know where you get your scrap and put up guidelines for its importation,” he told the local leaders.

The workshop in which the explosion occurred belongs to a renowned aluminum fabricator only identified as Yeye. The workshop manufactures pots, ladles, kettles and saucepans, among other aluminum products.

The Police had by press time cordoned off the scene of the explosion and advised residents to stay away from it.

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