Property worth several million shillings was destroyed after a fire outbreak at around 3 pm at BIIKO Students hostel located in Kiswa near Bugolobi. The hostel which accommodates mostly students from the nearby Makerere University Business School had most of its top floors completely damaged. “As the Guild Leadership, we ensure that these hostels are inspected but we want to put the blame first of all on the management; for not being in a position to provide currently working fire extinguishers those that are expired.” “We need help and you are not helping.” “A student is sending us a message indicating she is inside trapped but they are looking on.”

The Director of Police’s Fire Prevention and Rescue Services Joseph Mugisa said all the hostel residents were safe and accounted for. “The fire started at the roof and a layer of plastic sheets under the tiles fueled the fire and caused it to spread.” Said, Joseph Mugisa – Director, Fire Prevention and Rescue Services. “Of course the other thing is that the building itself has no fire protection system; no extinguishers, no fire alarm and detection to alert the students inside.” Said, Godfrey Okobo – Fire Brigade Officer. The Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago who visited the site shortly after the fire outbreak called for a quick investigation into the cause of the fire. “There could be some act of arsonists, there could be arsonists who are behind this, so if it is the case then Police should tell us. They should be honest, they should carry out thorough investigations and tell the nation what exactly the cause is.” The fire outbreak at BIIKO hostel comes just after days the ground floor of Makerere University’s Mary Stewart Hall was also destroyed by fire.