KAMPALA -
The blaze, which began around 1:00pm on January 30, 2025, was managed by residents before the arrival of the Police Fire Brigade. No injuries or deaths were reported.

The Police annual fire report for 2023, released in 2024 shows a 9% decline in fire cases compared to the previous year.

The number of incidents dropped from 1,258 in 2022 to 1,144 in 2023, according to Fire Rescue Services director Joseph Mugisa.

“Out of the reported fires, 189 were categorised as minor and handled before emergency services arrived, while 15 calls turned out to be false alarms,” Mugisa said.

The report highlighted that 52.8% of fires occurred between midnight and 6:00 a.m., making this period the most high-risk. Residential buildings remained the most affected, with 233 incidents reported, followed by 226 fires in makeshift structures.

However, the report showed a positive trend in school fire incidents, which dropped by 23.1%, from 65 cases in 2022 to 50 in 2023. This decline has been attributed to improved safety measures and awareness campaigns.

Authorities have called on the public to remain vigilant, especially during high-risk hours, and to adhere to fire safety regulations.