Mr Apora also noted a shift in the time that fires were reported, with a significant increase between 1am and 6am in 2022 due to late-night business activities.
The police report also indicated a reduction in the number of deaths from fires from 74 cases in 2021 to 64 in 2022, with 271 lives saved. However, the lack of emergency lanes on roads, heavy traffic, and inadequate access roads to residential and commercial facilities hindered the police’s response to the fires.
The report cited various causes of fires, with negligence being the leading cause at 200 cases, followed by electrical short circuits at 186 cases. The majority of the fire incidents occurred in residential buildings and makeshift structures, with the Kampala Metropolitan area accounting for 976 cases.
The police recommended the need for protracted fire sensitisation campaigns, improved coverage on inspection of vulnerable facilities, and enacting fire safety laws and regulations to prevent fire incidents.
The report also listed some of the most devastating fires responded to in 2022 and the buildings and installations saved from fires.
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