WAKISO, UGANDA: Police in Wakiso Municipality is investigating the circumstances under which four children died in a fire after their mother left them in the house to go and fetch water.
The incident happened on Thursday at Kawuku cell, Mulawa parish, Kira division, Kira Municipality in Wakiso district, at the home of Annet Naigaga, a local businesswoman dealing in roasted maize and yellow bananas.
According to KMP deputy spokesperson ASP Luke Owoyesigyire, it is alleged that Naigaga on the fateful day left her home early in the morning to go and fetch water from a nearby well, leaving the four children, Namulindwa Even, 8, Kibuuka Isan 6, and her grandchildren, Nansubuga Noreen 3, and Cynthia, in the house.
“The children were left inside their old two-bedroom, semi-permanent house with their elder sister, 12-year-old Nakkasi Catherine, preparing to go to school. However, upon returning home from the well, she saw a lot of smoke coming from the house,“ said Owoyesigyire.
He explained that upon returning home from the well, Naigaga saw a lot of smoke coming from the house and attempted to rescue the juveniles but was unable to do so as the fire was too much.
“The four children were crying for help inside the house and the door was closed, she made an alarm and attempted to enter and rescue the children, but the fire was too much,” he said.
According to preliminary investigation, it is alleged that Nakasi, the eldest child might have left the candle burning inside before leaving the school, which might have caused the fire since there was a fueled motorcycle inside the house.
“It is also alleged that Nakasi Catherine who is the eldest child could have left the candle burning inside the house before she left for school,” Owoyesigyire noted before adding that police have opened up inquiries into the incident.
The four bodies have been conveyed to the city mortuary in Mulago for postmortem.
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