Witnesses reported that 60-year-old Mzei Masaba, a night watchman also known as a “Cobra” in the area, was likely asleep when the fire started and could not escape in time
A devastating fire destroyed a timber shop on Spire Road in Jinja on Sunday night, claiming the life of a night watchman and leaving traders with millions of shillings in losses.
The fire, which broke out late in the night, engulfed the entire establishment, which housed timber traders, furniture dealers, and carpenters.
Witnesses reported that 60-year-old Mzei Masaba, a night watchman also known as a “Cobra” in the area, was likely asleep when the fire started and could not escape in time.
His body was discovered the following morning after search efforts failed the previous night.
“We tried to trace him in the night, but we couldn’t find him. We thought he had escaped, only to discover his body in the morning,” said local resident Dan Wako.
Firefighters battled the blaze throughout the night, struggling with the presence of highly flammable materials such as timber and furniture.
The thick smoke and intense heat delayed their efforts, further complicated by blocked access routes to the building.
Kiira Region Police spokesperson James Mubi highlighted the challenges faced in firefighting operations, urging city planners to consider fire safety in their designs.
“Sometimes we struggle to access fire scenes because alleys are blocked. We urge city planners to work with us since we have experts who can offer guidance,” Mubi stated.
The fire has left many traders devastated, with some calling on the government for financial assistance.
“We lost several properties, including already made furniture, machines, and timber,” said Wilber Gwaya, one of the affected traders.
Jamil Byakatonda, a carpenter, echoed these sentiments, adding that he was already struggling with bank loans and now faced even greater financial difficulty.
The incident has raised alarm over recurrent fires in the area. Nakato Wakabi, a Jinja City Councillor, called for a thorough investigation into the cause of the fire, especially after a similar incident occurred last year without any police report.
“In August last year, a similar fire broke out just opposite this location, but we never received a police report. We need to know if there is more than meets the eye in these incidents,” Wakabi said.
Local authorities are now under pressure to enforce fire safety regulations and ensure that access routes are kept clear to prevent future tragedies.
