The Police in Kampala are looking into a fire that happened on Friday morning at a restaurant in the Uganda House building, located in the city center.
According to Luke Owoyesigyire, the deputy Police spokesperson for Kampala Metropolitan, the fire is believed to have started around 5 am. Owoyesigyire stated that the Fire Prevention and Rescue Services quickly responded to the fire outbreak at Cafe Bravo Restaurant, situated at Uganda House on Kampala Road. The fire swiftly spread throughout the restaurant premises.
Videos circulating on social media show the intense fire sweeping through the restaurant area, with thick black smoke rising into the sky. In one video, people can be seen attempting to extinguish the flames, but their efforts seem futile. Someone in the video mentions alerting the Police Fire Brigade, suggesting that the incident occurred before dawn.
Owoyesigyire commended the Fire Prevention and Rescue Services team for their prompt response, stating that they successfully contained the fire before it could spread further in the building. However, significant damage to the property occurred.
The Police have initiated investigations to determine the cause of the fire outbreak. Investigators are currently gathering evidence at the scene to ascertain the root cause of the incident. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries or fatalities resulting from the fire.
Updates on the investigation will be provided as soon as additional information becomes available, according to Owoyesigyire.
The affected building houses the headquarters of the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) party and various businesses, including the Bravo Restaurant, which bore the brunt of the morning fire outbreak.
The fire incident occurred a day after the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) donated two firefighting trucks to the Police Force.
KCCA handed over the trucks to the director of Fire Services, AIGP Joseph Mugisa, at City Hall. KCCA stated that the donation aims to assist the Police in managing fire and rescue incidents within the city.
Dorothy Kisaka, the executive director of KCCA, emphasized the importance of supporting the Police in their vital role in fire and rescue services. She noted that while KCCA is working towards building its firefighting capacity in the future, immediate support for the Police is necessary.
