Post Bank Kasese premises gutted by fire

________________________

Rwenzori East region police personnel are investigating a fire at a building which houses Post Bank Kasese branch.

The building was in the morning on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, gutted by fire which is anticipated to have started from the boys' quarters being rented by people as residential premises.

The building is situated in the central division of Kasese Municipality and the spot where the fire started (Post Bank section).

Joint efforts by local residents, police and the army fighting hard to cease the fire in the boys' quarters behind the bank section. (Credit: Samuel Amanyire)

Tireless efforts by residents especially boda boda riders, Uganda People's Defense Forces (UPDF) were among the firefighters who immediately responded by using fire extinguishers, and water from taps as business owners struggled to vacate their belongings from the building. 

Uganda Police firefighters from Uganda Police later deployed a team which extinguished the stubborn fire.

SP Nelson Tumushiime, the Uganda Police spokesperson Rwenzori East region, revealed that there were no injuries although lots of property had been destroyed. "Investigations are still going on to establish the extent of the damage and cause," he said. He also declined to reveal if the Bank lost any property in the inferno.   

SP Nelson Tumushiime, the Rwenzori East region police spokesperson, saying that they have started investigations to ascertain the extent of the damages. (Credit: Samuel Amanyire)

He cautioned the general public, especially the business community, to be extra vigilant, and buy personal fire extinguishing equipment, adding that as Kasese District continues to face an anonymous dry spell characterized by strong sun heat, a fire outbreak can easily take course.

"We regret all this because properties worth millions have been destroyed," he said.

"As you call police, it's important to be safely trying to extinguish the fire," he added.

Leaders speak out

Jafari Kigutiya, a senior citizen but also the Chairperson LC1 Basecamp lower cell, blamed Uganda Police for their delayed response to the fire on the scene, adding that the location of the fire outbreak spot neighbouring a patrol station needed urgent intervention.

"Thank God the local people and the army did a commendable job of acting very fast, otherwise the entire town would be on fire, several lives and properties would be lost," Jafari said.

Martin Safari, the Chairperson LC3 Central division, regretted the malicious damages the fires caused on the multi-million building in his locality which he praised as one of the biggest contributors to property taxes.

"This is so bad," Martin said.

He, however, blamed previous local leadership regimes for poor planning of the buildings within the Municipality where some houses are attached without reserving entry points to ease accessibility in case of any emergencies including fire outbreaks.

Police replies about the delayed response.

SP Tumushiime, who regretted the delays, explained that the entire Rwenzori East region which is made of four divisions including Hima, Central, Katwe and Bwera has only two fire extinguishing trucks of which one is specifically maintained at Mpondwe police station along the Uganda-Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) borderline, an area prone to possible fire outbreaks.