A devastating fire in Masaka district has left many people without homes after more than 20 houses were destroyed although no one was injured in the incident.

The incident occurred on October 4, 2024, around 8:00 pm in Kyamuzimba Kiwamirembe village in Kyesiga Sub County, Masaka district.

The houses that were engulfed by the flames belonged to individuals who had been displaced by floods in 2000 at the Malembo landing site in Kyesiga Sub County. They had to move to Kyamuzimba Kiwamirembe in Masaka district after their original homes were destroyed by the rising waters of Lake Victoria.

According to a local resident named Bosco Kitemu, the fire started when a woman named Mama Nuwe accidentally left hot charcoal unattended on her stove while cooking near a bag of dry charcoal. The blaze quickly spread to nearby houses, engulfing them in flames. Kitemu mentioned that despite their efforts to salvage some belongings, some locals took advantage and stole from them, leaving them with nothing.

’’We tried to save some property, but some of our fellow locals stole it, so now we have nothing,’’ Kitemu disclosed.

SP Twaha Kasirye, the police spokesperson for Greater Masaka, confirmed the incident and stated that investigations are currently underway. The affected residents have alleged that the fire originated from Mama Nuwe’s house due to her negligence with the charcoal stove. Kasirye emphasized that they would thoroughly investigate the cause of the fire and that Mama Nuwe would be questioned to aid in the investigation.

‘’We are going to investigate the cause of this fire; however, Mama Nuwe is also going to be questioned and also help to aid in our investigations,’’ Kasirye stated.

This fire is part of a concerning trend of fires affecting communities in Uganda, particularly those with wooden structures.

On October 1, 2024, another fire outbreak at the Lutoboka landing site in Kalangala District had a similar impact, displacing numerous families from Masaka and destroying many business establishments. The rapid spread of these fires is often caused by the flammable nature of the construction materials used in these areas.