One dead, property destroyed in Rukungiri town fire

Traders in Rukungiri District in western Uganda are counting losses after fire gutted buildings along Kinyasano Road in Rwakabengo A in southern division.
Among the property that were burnt include wielding machines President Museveni donated to a group of youth under their umbrella body Rukungiri Municipality Welders Association (RMWA), last year during his wealth creation campaigns.

The RMWA chairperson, Mr Julius Kamusiime said President Museveni had donated them the equipment which they were using for painting, joinery and welding asa source of income for the group.

“All the four machines were destroyed by the fire,” Mr Kamusiime told this reporter.
The fire is reported to have started from a gas cylinder shop next to a milling factory owned by one Happy Frank.
One of the victims, Amos Kabumba said he had last everything in the fire.

“We have lost property worth billions of shillings because we had carpentry machines, welding machines and ready made products like chairs, beds, cupboards and timber, among others,” he said.

One person was confirmed dead after he was hit by a stray gas cylinder that exploded in the fire.
The District Police Commander, Mr Moses Nanoka attributed the fire out break to a gas cylinder that exploded and quickly spread to other neighboring makeshifts that were selling timber and other flammable products.

“Preliminary reports show that the fire started from a gas cylinder and these people had no fire extinguisher to fight it,” he said.

Residents blamed police for delaying to arrive at the scene after they were contacted.
“We called them as soon as the fire started but they came in after almost thirty minutes when the fire had spread to other shops,” one of the affected traders said.