A fire broke out at Wandegeya Police Barracks in Kampala on Thursday, prompting an emergency response as police moved to secure shelter and basic necessities for affected residents.
Police said no one was injured in the October 15 incident. The cause of the fire and the extent of the damage were still under investigation.
“The Police Fire Prevention and Rescue Services team is currently at the scene responding to the incident,” Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson SP Racheal Kawala said in a statement.
“Investigations are underway to establish the cause of the fire and assess the extent of the damage, including the property lost.”
The investigation will establish how the blaze started. It remained unclear whether it resulted from an electrical fault, another accidental cause or deliberate action.
Police had not announced evidence of sabotage or linked the outbreak to the condition or management of the barracks.
Speaking after the outbreak, Inspector General of Police Abbas Byakagaba said the immediate priority was to help affected residents find somewhere to stay and access food and essential supplies.
“The effort is in seeing how our people are settled down, and that’s the main effort, and that’s what we are doing,” he said after inspecting the scene.
“We shall definitely make them settle somewhere, and also ensure that they are going to eat, and also get the basic utilities that they require.”
He thanked members of the public who had come to assist following the outbreak and confirmed that nobody had been injured.
The incident highlights the importance of fire prevention in residential accommodation, including regular inspection of electrical installations, safe use of appliances and clear evacuation routes.
The National Building Review Board has identified electrical safety and compliance with building standards as critical measures for reducing fire hazards.
According to the Uganda Police Force’s Annual Crime Report 2025, police registered 1,000 fire incidents nationwide, down from 1,280 in 2024, a decline of about 22 percent.
A further 310 incidents involved rescue and special service operations.
Police had not immediately disclosed how many people were affected or the value of the property destroyed.
Kawala said further updates would be provided as more information became available.
