Police rescue operations at Wandegega
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Police officers and other residents are counting losses after a fire swept through residential blocks at Wandegeya Police Barracks in Kampala on Thursday, October 15, destroying household property worth millions of shillings and prompting an emergency response to provide shelter, food and other basic necessities to those affected.
The afternoon blaze, which reportedly broke out between 3pm and 3:30pm, destroyed furniture and household belongings in the affected residential flats, leaving several occupants facing the challenge of rebuilding their lives after losing essential possessions.
No deaths or injuries were reported, according to police, although the exact number of affected residents and the total value of the property destroyed had not been established by press time.
The Police Fire Prevention and Rescue Services team rushed to the scene to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to other residential structures.
“The Police Fire Prevention and Rescue Services team is currently at the scene responding to the incident,” Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson SP Racheal Kawala said in a statement.
“Investigations are underway to establish the cause of the fire and assess the extent of the damage, including the property lost,” she added.
The cause of the outbreak remained under investigation, with a suspected electrical fault or human negligence among the possible explanations being considered. However, police had not confirmed the cause or established whether the incident resulted from an electrical problem, an accident or deliberate action.
There was also no official evidence linking the fire to sabotage or shortcomings in the management of the barracks.
Inspector General of Police Abbas Byakagaba visited the scene following the incident and said the immediate priority was to ensure that affected officers and their families had somewhere to stay and access to food and other essential supplies.
“The effort is in seeing how our people are settled down, and that’s the main effort, and that’s what we are doing,” Byakagaba said.
“We shall definitely make them settle somewhere, and also ensure that they are going to eat, and also get the basic utilities that they require.”
The police chief also thanked members of the public who responded to the emergency and offered assistance to those affected.
Although the fire destroyed household property, police said there were no casualties. The full extent of the damage, however, was yet to be established as investigations and assessments continued.
The incident has renewed attention on fire safety in residential accommodation, particularly in buildings occupied by multiple households, where a fire can quickly threaten several families and destroy property accumulated over many years.
Fire prevention experts emphasise the importance of regularly inspecting electrical installations, avoiding overloaded sockets, safely handling electrical appliances and maintaining clear evacuation routes.
The National Building Review Board has also identified electrical safety and compliance with building standards as important measures in reducing fire risks in buildings.
According to the Uganda Police Force Annual Crime Report 2025, police registered 1,000 fire incidents nationwide, down from 1,280 in 2024, representing a decline of approximately 22 per cent. The report also recorded 310 incidents involving rescue and special service operations.
Police said further information about the Wandegeya incident, including the cause of the fire and the extent of the losses, would be provided as it became available.
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