Police in the Busoga Sub-region are investigating fires that claimed the lives of 4 family members in Namutumba district on the morning of October 8.
In Namutumba District, a fire destroyed a grass-thatched house in Buyoboya-Kibale Village, Mpumiro Parish, Bulange Sub-county around 3:15 am. The victims included 30-year-old Ezimaface Were Mukisa, his wife Annet Namuyanga, 25, and their two daughters, Judith Babirye, 10, and Sylvia Bamukisa, 4.
The area LC1 Chairperson was alerted to the fire by a relative of the deceased. Upon arrival at the scene, the house was already completely burned down, and the family members had perished in the fire.
Neighbours noticed smoke and flames coming from the house and raised the alarm, but it was too late. Although investigations are ongoing, unconfirmed reports suggest that unknown individuals may have locked the house from the outside and set it on fire. This speculation arose because the family relied on solar power for lighting.
The elder brother of Mukisa, James Tusubira, expressed grief over the tragedy, mentioning that Mukisa had planned to start constructing a permanent house. He had saved money to buy building materials, but everything, including the funds, was lost in the fire.
Police from Namutumba Central Police Station and Bulange Police Post transported the bodies to Namutumba Health Centre III for postmortem examinations.
Authorities have appealed to the public for any information that may help with the investigation.
