Police have identified the victims of the fire that broke out on Wednesday at Sunrise Hotel, located along Rashid Khamis Road, opposite Mukwano Mall in Kampala.
According to Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Mr. Patrick Onyango, the fire claimed the lives of two foreigners: Akot Akol Arop Chan from South Sudan and Isa Mwindadi Shineni from Tanzania.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the fire started on the first floor, possibly in a restaurant, before spreading to the hotel and cutting off access to the upper floors. Unconfirmed reports suggest the fire may have been triggered by an informal liquid soap-making business operating within the building.
Mr. Onyango stated that investigators are assessing whether chemical reactions involving flammable substances played a role in the blaze. “The ongoing investigation aims to determine the exact cause of the fire, the number of victims, the extent of property damage, and potential structural concerns,” he said.
The lack of fire suppression systems in the building may have worsened the destruction. However, emergency responders managed to rescue 20 occupants, while nine critically injured survivors were taken to Mulago Referral Hospital for treatment.
The response included six Police Fire and Rescue Services trucks and ambulances from both the police and the Uganda Red Cross. Local street boys also played a heroic role in the rescue efforts, using water pipes as makeshift ladders to break hotel windows and create escape routes.
Several guests were seen struggling to evacuate through windows, with some wrapped in towels as they sought safety. Security personnel on-site provided ladders to aid in the evacuation.
Despite the Fire Brigade’s efforts, the blaze remained active by 5 p.m., with six fire trucks battling to contain it.
Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago expressed concern over the Fire Brigade’s capacity to handle such incidents, pointing out that the prolonged response raised serious questions about fire management in the city and across Uganda.
“The fire started early in the morning, yet it has still not been extinguished. This highlights a manpower and resource issue that must be addressed urgently,” Lukwago stated.
Ms. Minsa Kabanda, Minister for Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and the Metropolitan Area, urged building owners to install fire hydrants and extinguishers to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
