Police in Kampala have launched investigations into a fire outbreak that destroyed a poultry structure and killed hundreds of chickens in Kinawataka early Tuesday morning.
According to Kampala Metropolitan Police, the fire broke out at around 6:00 a.m. on March 10 in Kaggo Zone, Kinawataka, within the jurisdiction of Jinja Road Division.
Preliminary findings suggest the blaze may have been caused by an electrical short circuit, although investigations are still ongoing.
The incident resulted in the death of approximately 650 chickens, dealing a significant loss to the poultry farmer.
Kampala Metropolitan Police Deputy Public Relations Officer ASP Luke Owoyesigyire said officers from the Police Fire Prevention and Rescue Services responded to the scene but encountered serious challenges accessing the affected structure.
“Preliminary findings indicate that the fire is suspected to have been caused by a short circuit. Our fire prevention and rescue teams responded promptly, but access to the scene was difficult due to the absence of proper access roads,” Owoyesigyire said.
Despite the access difficulties, firefighters worked together with residents in the area to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to nearby structures.
“Police worked together with members of the public to contain and eventually put out the fire,” he added.
He urged the public, especially developers in rapidly growing urban settlements, to ensure proper planning that allows emergency vehicles to access buildings during incidents.
“We appeal to members of the public to plan for proper access roads when constructing buildings to enable emergency responders to easily access such areas in case of fires or other emergencies,” Owoyesigyire noted.
Police said further investigations are underway to establish the exact cause of the fire and assess the full extent of the losses.