The Uganda Police Force has reported that two individuals who perished in the fire at Sunrise Hotel in Capital Kampala on March 5, 2025, were foreign nationals.
Patrick Onyango, the spokesperson for the Kampala Metropolitan area, identified the victims as Akot Akol Arop Chan, a 45-year-old from South Sudan, and Mwindadi Shineni Isa, a national from Tanzania.
He mentioned that their bodies have been transferred to the City Mortuary at Mulago for autopsy, as investigations continue to determine the exact cause of the hotel fire.
The incident took place around 10 a.m. on Rashid Khamis Road, right across from Mukwano Mall in the heart of Kampala.
Started from restaurant
However, Onyango noted that preliminary investigations suggest that the fire spread rapidly, cutting off access to the upper levels of the building seven storey building.
He stressed that this triggered a complex rescue operation, with 20 occupants successfully rescued by emergency responders.
Nine of the critically injured individuals were also been admitted to Mulago Referral Hospital, where they are currently receiving medical treatment.
“Ongoing investigations aim to determine the exact cause of the fire, the number of victims, the extent of property damage, and potential architectural issues,” he added.
Onyango said the cause of the fire remains undetermined, but unconfirmed reports indicate a possible link to an informal liquid soap-making business on the first floor.
“Investigators will examine whether chemical reactions involving flammable substances like glycerin, ethanol, isopropanol, and fragrance oils contributed to the blaze,” he noted.
Investigations also indicate that the building also lacked fire suppression systems, which may have exacerbated the extent of the damage.
The Police Annual Crime and Road Safety Report 2024 released last month, showed a significant increase in school fires, with a 9% rise from 50 cases in 2023 to 55 cases in 2024. Residential buildings and makeshift structures were the most affected by fires, with 300 and 250 cases, respectively.
Electricity-related issues, negligence, and misuse of wax candles were the major causes of fires, with Kampala Metropolitan Region recording the highest number of fire occurrences at 993 cases.
Boost in firefighting equipment
In a related development, the Uganda Police Force has significantly enhanced its firefighting resources thanks to a generous donation from the Government of Japan.
This contribution includes five state-of-the-art firefighting trucks and an ambulance.
The handover took place at the Police Headquarters in Naguru, where Police Chief Abbas Byakagaba, His Deputy James Ocaya, and Assistant Inspector General of Police Stephen Tanui, who oversees the Directorate of Police Fire Prevention and Rescue Services, received the equipment.
This new equipment is set to improve public safety and bolster the police’s ability to respond swiftly to fire emergencies.
