Two children have been confirmed to have died in the Sunday morning fire that gutted a house in Kironde zone, Kabawo parish, Rubaga division, in Kampala. The house that caught fire leading to the death of Aya Namuddu 10, and Arafat Kawuki 8, belonged to Zidda Nansasi.
Police have been told by locals that Nansasi left three children in her two-roomed house and went for overnight prayers. However, the eldest child Ashraf Seruwaji 12, saw fire emanating from the room where he was sleeping and it quickly spread to the deceased children’s room.
Seruwaji alerted the neighbours at around 2 am and they quickly put off the fire but it was already late for Namuddu and Kawuki who had already died of suffocation. Seruwaji also sustained fire injuries perhaps in the process of trying to protect his siblings.
“Sadly, the two children, Arafat and Aya, suffocated to death, while Seruwaji sustained serious injuries and is currently admitted to Mulago Hospital. The community responded promptly and managed to put out the fire before it could cause further damage,” ASP Luke Owoyesigyire, the deputy Kampala metropolitan police spokesperson said.
Owoyesigyire added that the cause of the fire outbreak is currently unknown, but the forensic team combed the scene thus collecting material of evidential value, which would probably aid investigators to determine the cause of the fire.
Namuddu and Kawuki’s bodies were taken to City Mortuary Mulago for postmortem examination. Police have extended their deepest sympathies and condolences to the family and friends of the deceased children. “We will provide further updates on the investigation as soon as possible. We urge members of the public to remain calm and cooperate with our investigating teams as they carry out their work,” ASP Owoyesigyire said.
Uganda has had terrible incidents that have claimed lives of children in the recent past. At least 12 children died in the fire that caught a dormitory at Salaama School for the Blind in Mukono district in the last quarter of last year.