Entebbe, Uganda: Police in Entebbe are probing a heartbreaking fire incident that killed three young sisters in Mpala Cell, Katabi Town Council, Wakiso District, during the early hours of Friday, August 15, 2025.
ASP Luke Owoyesigyire, the Deputy PRO for Kampala Metropolitan Police, identified the deceased as Namiru Ellah (12), Amani Namulema (5), and Namujju Tamale (3).
Preliminary findings indicate the children’s mother, Julie Nalubwama, had left them at home unattended, while their father, Lenon Kavuma, was away in Jinja for work. The fire, which started around 1:00 am, was reported by the local LC1 chairperson.
According to Owoyesigyire, the Fire and Rescue Services responded quickly, managing to put out the blaze. Two of the victims’ bodies were recovered outside the burnt structure, while the third was found inside, burnt beyond recognition.
Police documented the scene, recorded statements from witnesses, and transferred the bodies to City Mortuary Mulago for postmortem. Investigations into the exact cause of the fire are ongoing.
According to the Uganda Police Annual Crime Report 2024, a total of 99 people lost their lives in fire outbreaks nationwide, 42 of them children. Many of these deaths were attributed to unattended cooking appliances, faulty electrical wiring, and inadequate adult supervision.
Authorities note that fire incidents involving children are on the rise, particularly in urban and peri-urban communities, where informal settlements and single-room dwellings often lack proper emergency exits and basic fire safety measures.
Local leaders and child protection advocates have since renewed calls for heightened parental responsibility and public awareness. “This is not just about a fire; it’s about a failure of care. No child should be left alone at night, especially in homes without fire safety equipment,” a Katabi Town Council official told DailyExpress on condition of anonymity.
Police have not yet confirmed whether charges will be brought against the parents, noting that the ongoing investigation will establish the extent of any negligence.
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