Inspector General of Police Abas Byakagaba has pledged to support police officers and their families whose property and household belongings were destroyed in a fire at Wandegeya Police Station in Kampala.
Byakagaba made the commitment while inspecting the burnt police accommodation units, commonly known as uniports, at the station.
He said the cause of the fire had not yet been established, but police authorities had agreed to assist the affected officers and their families as investigations and other response measures continued.
“The cause of the fire is still not known, but we have agreed to settle the affected officers and their families as other plans follow,” Byakagaba told Bbeg Media.
The fire destroyed property and household items belonging to officers living in the accommodation units, leaving some families facing the loss of their belongings.
The exact cause of the fire remained unclear at the time of the inspection. Some members of the public and police officers suspected that a gas cylinder or faulty electrical connections around the barracks could have contributed to the incident. However, these suggestions had not been confirmed by investigators.
The fire reportedly broke out at about 2pm and also affected parts of the Ministry of Public Service premises near the police station.
The police fire brigade responded to the emergency and managed to bring the fire under control. Their response also enabled some occupants to rescue household items before the flames could destroy them.
It was not immediately clear how many accommodation units were affected or the full value of the property destroyed.
Byakagaba’s pledge is intended to provide support to officers and their families as police authorities assess the damage and consider the next steps.
The cause of the fire and the extent of the losses are expected to be established through further assessment and investigations.
