Kampala, Uganda: The Uganda Police Force has launched investigations into a fire outbreak that ravaged several small businesses in Kinawataka, a densely populated trading area along Ntinda-Kiwatule Road, late Tuesday night.
The fire, which broke out at around 10:00 PM on May 27, 2025, destroyed multiple kiosks in Bukoto II Parish, Nakawa Division, according to Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy Spokesperson ASP Luke Owoyesigyire.
Police from Ntinda responded swiftly, and firefighters from the Fire Prevention and Rescue Services Department managed to contain the blaze before it could spread to adjacent structures.
“Our team at Ntinda Police Station received the alert promptly and immediately dispatched officers to the scene,” Owoyesigyire said, “Fire Prevention and Rescue Services responded with multiple firefighting units and successfully contained the blaze before it could extend to other nearby properties.”
“No fatalities were reported,” he added. Affected businesses, according to Owoyesigyire, included coffee shops, food kiosks, and small interior décor enterprises.
While the full value of the losses remains under assessment, eyewitnesses described a fast-moving blaze that tore through the area, leaving several traders devastated.
The cause of the fire is not yet known, but Police said more updates on the Kinawataka incident will be issued as investigations progress, and appealed to eyewitnesses and residents to share any relevant information with detectives.
The Kinawataka incident adds to a growing pattern of fire outbreaks in urban commercial hubs across Uganda.
According to the Uganda Police Annual Crime Report 2024, the country recorded 1,270 fire incidents, with the Kampala Metropolitan Area accounting for nearly 300 cases, more than any other region.
Fire outbreaks in informal settlements and trading centers are often attributed to illegal power connections, unattended cooking, and faulty wiring, which pose high risks to both life and property.
Experts have repeatedly urged business owners and landlords to adopt simple fire safety practices such as installing fire extinguishers, avoiding overloaded sockets, and switching off power at night.
Public safety advocates are now pressing Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and law enforcement agencies to increase fire inspections, enforce building safety standards, and conduct more frequent fire awareness campaigns in high-risk neighborhoods.
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