A fire gutted Efforts Garage in Ntinda, a Kampala suburb, on Monday afternoon, burning at least seven vehicles and spare parts.
The blaze broke out around 1:00 pm while mechanics were servicing vehicles, including police patrol cars and private vehicles. Witnesses said the flames spread quickly, engulfing the garage before firefighters arrived.
Ali Njabire, a mechanic at the garage, said the fire followed an explosion. “The fire was a shock,” Njabire said. “We managed to save the police patrol cars that were in for service, but unfortunately, our other clients’ vehicles didn’t survive. The entire garage was filled with smoke, and our priority shifted to saving our lives.”
The garage owner, identified only as Boobu, collapsed under stress and was rushed to hospital. Njabire linked the incident to an electrical short circuit worsened by gas cylinders inside the facility.
Other mechanics said the fire spread too fast for them to respond, forcing them to call police. By the time firefighters arrived, little could be saved.
Former Nakawa Division deputy resident city commissioner Anderson Burora, who witnessed the incident, criticized the lack of fire safety preparedness in the area. “It’s truly terrible that when fires break out in Ntinda, people are left to fight the fires with buckets, and by the time help arrives, businesses are already reduced to ashes,” Burora said.
He faulted both the city authorities and business owners for failing to enforce safety standards. “It’s unimaginable that there is not a single fire extinguisher here…KCCA needs to investigate these safety issues. Businesses that fail to meet safety standards shouldn’t operate. I also encourage business owners to learn basic safety measures to protect their businesses,” Burora said.
The incident adds to a growing list of recent urban fires in Kampala. Last month, more than ten kiosks and part of an arcade were destroyed along Kiwatule Road in Ntinda, while Smart Mini Supermarket in Busega and timber shops in Ndeba were also gutted.
The Police Fire and Rescue Services report (2024) recorded a 13.8 percent rise in fire outbreaks, with 1,280 cases compared to 1,104 in 2023. Experts warn that the increase exposes serious safety lapses in congested business and residential areas, often linked to aging infrastructure, poor wiring, and rapid urban growth.
Email:homelandnewspaper@gmail.com
