Capital shoppers fire still a mystery

By Cecilia Okoth

Police has started investigations into circumstances under which fire gutted the newest mall Capital Shoppers in Ntinda.

"We are yet to identify what caused this fire but I must say, the damage is rather serious," Hassan Kihanda the Deputy Chief Fire officer Uganda Police Fire Brigade said on returning to the scene Monday morning along with a team of fire investigators.

But he said investigations have been initiated.

"At least for now, the wiring system of the shop was okay. Although we still need to analyse the stock of the shop and its fire protection measures," Kihanda stressed.

The fire which destroyed property according to Robert Walugembe, the DPC Kiira police was started at 7.30pm.

"The fire exclusively burnt a Bata shop and store to ashes and it also ruined a couple of nearby shops with soot." He said

Robert Akankwasa, the Capital Shoppers property manager also said he did not know the exact cause of the fire.

However when our team contacted the Bata manager who was present at the scene, he declined to comment on the situation.

Frank Kasozi, a worker at Capital Shoppers supermarket who witnessed the tragedy said he cited smoke coming out of the shop after it was closed.

"My colleagues and I rushed with fire extinguishers to stop the fire but unfortunately the mall did not have enough extinguishers.

Ben Mutemi, a manager at Inyamat Café and restaurant who also suffered from the fire said he incurred losses amounting up to Sh50m within that short time.