By Spy Uganda
More than 200 residents have been left homeless and property worth millions of shillings destroyed after a devastating fire swept through Kikadde Trading Centre in Kitumbi Sub-county, Kassanda District, on Saturday afternoon.
The blaze broke out at around 4:40 p.m. in Lwensambya Village and rapidly spread through the busy trading centre, reducing homes, shops, a clinic, boutiques, bars and several semi-permanent structures to ashes.
Preliminary police investigations point to an illegal electricity connection as the possible cause of the inferno.
According to eyewitnesses, a local uncertified electrician, commonly known as a kamyufu, identified only as Kizza, had allegedly climbed an electricity pole to make an unauthorized power connection when sparks erupted from the overhead wires.
“It is alleged that the suspect was illegally connecting electricity when sparks emerged and ignited the fire. Upon realizing the danger, he reportedly climbed down and fled the scene,” Wamala Regional Police spokesperson SSP Lameck Kigozi said.
Residents attempted to contain the flames, but the fire spread quickly through the densely populated trading centre, destroying businesses and homes within minutes.
The incident has deepened anxiety among residents as it marks the second major fire outbreak at the same trading centre in less than a month.
Local leaders said the latest blaze started near the area affected by a previous fire that destroyed several houses in Kirombe Kikadde. Some of the structures destroyed on Saturday had only recently been rebuilt by families still recovering from the earlier disaster.
The recurrence of the fires has raised concerns about the safety of electricity installations and the growing practice of illegal power connections in rapidly expanding trading centres.
Mr. Lwamulinda Stephen, the chairperson of Lwensambya Village, described the incident as one of the worst disasters the community has experienced in recent years.
“Many families have lost everything. Some victims were left with nothing but the clothes they were wearing,” he said.
Police officers from Kassanda Central Police Station responded to the scene and, together with Scene of Crime Officers (SOCOs), documented the destruction and recorded statements from witnesses.
A General Enquiry File has since been opened as investigators work to establish the exact cause of the fire and assess the extent of the damage.
Police have launched a manhunt for Kizza, who remains on the run.
Mr. Kigozi urged members of the public to avoid illegal electricity connections and the use of unlicensed electricians.
“We appeal to the public to desist from unauthorized power connections. Such acts not only contravene the law but also expose communities to serious danger,” he said.
Security has been heightened in the trading centre to prevent looting as affected families sift through the debris in search of salvageable belongings.
The value of the destroyed property is yet to be officially determined, while local leaders have called for emergency assistance to support the displaced residents.
