One dead as fire burns City House shopping centre in Kampala

A Monday morning fire whose cause is the subject of a police inquest tore through the walls and roof of City House shopping centre along William Street in Uganda's capital, Kampala. 

City House, a large business and shopping complex in Uganda's capital that houses several rentals, including the Democratic Party (DP) office went up in flames at around 8:30 am on December 11, destroying merchandise worth millions of shillings.

"We have seven fire trucks with our officers deployed to contain the fire at City House shopping centre in Kampala," Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire told journalists on Monday.

Hours later, ASP Owoyesigyire said the police fire team had recovered a body of one person from the debris.

"One person so far confirmed dead today during the city house fire," he said.

Kampala Central Division Mayor Salim Uhuru has urged property owners to have firefighting equipment for damages caused by fire outbreaks.

“It’s a bad Monday. Unfortunately, the fire has caused a lot of damage here, but as KCCA we have come out with by-laws. All property owners must have fire extinguishers because that was supposed to be the first equipment to fight the fire before the police, so in case we had firefighting equipment, I think the fire could not have caused a lot of damage, but so far, we have engaged the property owners and everyone is willing to have fire extinguishers in the premises,” Mr Salim said.

PHOTOS: City House in Kampala goes up in flames 

The cause of the fire outbreak was still unknown by press time and the Uganda Police Fire Brigade is currently in the process of extinguishing it.

The building in question houses several restaurants and stationery shops on the first floor, textile shops on the ground floor, and office outlets on the third floor.

More details to follow......