By Hanning Mbabazi
Rukungiri: One person is confirmed to have died and property worth millions of shillings after fire gutted Rukungiri town on Thursday afternoon.
The fire which broke out suddenly left residents of Rwanyambo street, Rukungiri Municipality in tears after property worth millions of shillings got destroyed. Eyewitnesses say the deceased was burnt to death as he tried to rescue some of his merchandise. Police Firefighters who responded to alerts from residents reveal that initial investigations indicate the fire broke out after a gas cylinder exploded. Eye witness reveal that the explosion occurred near a milling factory just below Umeme station at Rwabanyambo street-Rukungiri and later spread towards the welding workshops. The Police fire brigade arrived at the scene but could do nothing since lots of damage had already been done.
The Police are still on ground to establish the cause of fire. Some of the property that was burnt includes four welding machines which President Yoweri Museveni donated to a group of youth under their umbrella body Rukungiri Municipality Welders Association (RMWA) in 2018. According to RMWA chairperson, Julius Kamusiime, they used the equipment for painting, joinery and welding. However, traders blamed police for arriving late at the scene, moreover with trucks that had no water to help fight the raging fire.
