One family lost six children in a tragic house fire in Namayingo district, the oldest was 13 on Wednesday.
The fast-moving inferno that is believed to have started from a candle that was left burning collapsed the home of Mr John Ouma, the LC 1 chairperson of Baale village in Lutolo parish, Banda sub county.
The Namayingo District Police commander, Mr Abraham Tukadane, confirmed the tragic incident, saying that five of the children died on spot while the sixth child succumbed to severe burns on arrival at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala where he had been rushed for treatment.
The deceased were identified as Akinyi Violet, Linda Fortune, Braven Faizon, Muwanguzi Waren,Kevin Brighton and Jovia Muwanguzi while the lone survivor is Mary Byobona, the lone survivor is still battling for her life at Mulago Hospital.
One of the deceased is a son to Mr Ouma, the owner of the home while the rest are grand children who were spending holidays with their grandparents.
Rampant fires
Mr Tukundane told journalists that this is the second fire that has claimed children’s lives. Recently, two children died under similar circumstance in Mutumba sub county.
The DPC advised parents to keep watch of candles before they go to sleep, arguing that recklessness is the main cause of such tragedies.
Henry Kitabula, the Namayingo deputy Resident District Commissioner who visited the bereaved family blamed the incident on the negligence on the side of the caretakers.
Kitabula says the children were too young to be left alone in a small grass-thatched house with no adult to direct them on when to put off the candle before sleeping.
