Firefighters contain two blazes in Kampala

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Firefighters responded to two major fire incidents in Kampala on March 15, 2025, successfully containing the blazes without any injuries or significant property damage. 

The first fire broke out at Mandela City Tyres warehouse on Sixth Street, Nakawa Division, at 10:25 am. Five fire trucks managed to extinguish the flames.

“Investigations revealed that MNK workers burning rubbish in the yard caused the incident,” read a copy of the police report seen by New Vision.

Another fire was reported at Kireka Market at 3:30 am, where a police patrol car, registration number UP 00052, assisted firefighters in bringing the situation under control. 

Authorities have urged businesses and market vendors to adhere to fire safety regulations to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The Director of Fire and Rescue Services, Assistant Inspector General of Police Stephen Tanui, noted that in 2024, there was a 13.8% increase in reported fire incidents, rising from 1,104 cases in 2023 to 1,280 in 2024. 

Out of these, 1,150 were handled directly by the directorate, 120 were extinguished before firefighters arrived, and 10 turned out to be false alarms.

“750 fires, making up 67%, were reported between 6:00 am and 12:00 pm, while 530 fires, or 33%, occurred between midnight and 6:00 am in 2024. The majority of fires were registered in residential buildings, followed by makeshift structures, with a total of 300 and 250 cases, respectively,” Tanui said. 

He further noted, “The directorate registered a 9% increase in school fires, from 50 cases in 2023 to 55 cases in 2024.”