KAMPALA, UGANDA: Police in Kampala have arrested one suspect as investigations intensify to establish the cause of a fire outbreak at the National Theatre that left property worth millions destroyed in the Sunday afternoon blaze.
The fire outbreak that was first reported to have destroyed an arm of the National theatre burnt down several kiosks and other businesses in the Theatre’s Parking Yard in Kampala.
Speaking shortly after the incident, ASP Luke Owoyesigyire, the Kampala Metropolitan deputy police spokesperson said one person identified as Vincent Sanjo, a welder was arrested and detained at Kampala Central Police station on allegations of having caused the fire incident.
“Property worth millions of shillings has been destroyed in a fire that broke out at the National Theatre. The fire started as a result of welding form one of the kiosks and before it could spread, the police fire department put it off,” Mr Owoyesgyire said.
According to Owoyesigyire, Sanjo is said to have been welding at one of the kiosks when the fire started with what some eyewitnesses said, sparks from the welding machine.
Eyewitnesses claimed that the welder ignored the fact that the containers were thatched using grass and as he continued with the welding, the sparks landed on the grass leading to the fire outbreak.
By press time, the owners of the affected shops were busy sorting their property, including burnt alcohol bottles from the debris. Other property included clothes and shoes from the nearby boutiques, mobile money tables, and booths and printers, and other stationery.
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