KAWEMPE
At least two children have been confirmed dead following a fire breakout that razed their house in Kiyanja Zone, Kawempe Division, Kampala.
The incident occurred on Thursday (June 25, 2026) in the evening hours, according to police.
It is alleg d that the children’s mother had left them at home briefly and went to a nearby trading centre when the incident happened.
“The mother instructed her eight-year-old child to return to the house and light a candle after finding that there was no electricity,” police reported.
Despite efforts to extinguish the fire by the neighbor’s, the two children were found dead inside the burning house.
ASP Luke Owoyesigyire, the Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesperson has identified the deceased as a 13-year-old girl, who was living with a disability, and a three-year-old boy.
He noted that the Fire Prevention and Rescue Services, responded to the scene, documented it and put out the fire.
However, the lives of the children and properties were not rescued as the house was congested and in a densely populated area.
“The family lived in a congested single-room house in a densely populated informal settlement, and all household property was destroyed in the fire,” Owoyesigyire explained.
The bodies were conveyed to City Mortuary Mulago for postmortem examinations.
The exact cause of the fire has not yet been established, as investigations continue.
Police urged the public to exercise caution when using candles and other open flames, especially in homes where children are left unattended.
“Investigations into the incident are ongoing,” Owoyesigyire said.
