Health ministry building fire: what we know so far

KAMPALA - Sections of the ministry of health building in Wandegeya caught fire on Sunday, with police saying that "an assortment of files and other items" had been destroyed.

Police spokesperson Emilian Kayima said in an initial statement that the cause of the fire was yet to be established.

"All info[rmation] will be given when received from the authorities and experts handling the situation," he had said earlier.

Kayima said the fire, which "started from a kitchen area", had been eventually contained by "our fire brigade and rescue services teams".

WHAT WAS DESTROYED

The police later updated on the situation, saying the fire "burnt to ashes quite many offices", which included:

• Store for procurement

• Office of health promotions

• Office of sec quality assurance

• Quality assurance office

• Commissioner quality assurance office

• Assistant commissioner quality assurance office

• Assistant commissioner child health office, and

• Secretary child health office

All these offices were on the same floor.

Godfrey Okobbo, the acting commissioner of fire and rescue services, said five offices were affected and stuff like documents and computers were destroyed.

He said no-one was injured, adding that the police would use CCTV footage to gather information about the cause of the fire.

The electricity was not affected and the cameras remained working through the fire, said Okobbo.

Earlier, fire-fighting trucks had been seen on ground as smoke billowed from the third and top-most floor.

(Credit: Ashraf Kasirye)

 (Credit: Ashraf Kasirye)