The Uganda Police Force has announced plans to summon building owners, arcade managers, and hotel operators for failing to install fire fighting equipments, a critical safety feature required in public spaces.
This decision follows a fire that broke out last week at Sunrise Hotel, located on Khamis Road, opposite Mukwano Mall in Kampala Central.
Authorities found that the building lacked a fire fighting equipments amidst of the existence of a fire hydrant, significantly hindering firefighters’ ability to effectively contain the blaze.
Police Spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke stated that in addition to the missing hydrants, the hotel’s poor access roads made it difficult for fire trucks to reach the scene quickly, a challenge faced by many commercial buildings across Kampala.
Rusoke noted that this lack of infrastructure could delay emergency responses, putting both lives and property at greater risk.
In light of this, Rusoke emphasized the urgency of addressing these fire safety lapses and confirmed that police would engage property owners to ensure they adhere to fire safety regulations, such as installing hydrants and improving access roads.
This initiative comes as part of ongoing efforts to enforce better fire safety standards across the country.
The Uganda Police Force is determined to mitigate future fire disasters by holding building owners accountable, and to ensure that emergency services are better prepared to respond quickly and effectively.
Rusoke also warned that failure to comply with safety regulations would lead to strict enforcement actions, urging owners to prioritize the safety of both their tenants and the surrounding communities.
With the city of Kampala facing increasing urbanization, the police are calling for greater attention to fire prevention measuresand building compliance.
They aim to prevent such tragedies by improving fire preparednessand infrastructureto safeguard the public.
By Ben Musanje
10th Mar 2025END
