On Thursday, September 28, 2023, a fire broke out at Conner City Garage in Kataali Village, Kinoni Town Council, Lwengo District. The incident occurred at 3 am and resulted in the destruction of several vehicles and motorcycles, along with a motor spare parts shop. Mr. God Kalangwa, an employee at the garage, noticed the fire and raised an alarm, alerting neighbors.
Despite their efforts, the fire could not be controlled, and the fire brigade’s response was unsuccessful. Mr. Kalangwa expressed his helplessness, stating that “everything was already in flames” when they saw the fire.
Mr. Nicholas Ssebwana, another worker at the garage, received a distress call about the fire while attending a funeral. He emphasized the importance of a thorough police investigation to identify the culprits responsible for the fire, as many customers had their equipment stored at the garage.
The chairperson of Kataali Village, Mr. Sande Kalanzi, called for an expedited investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire. While some speculate it may have been an electrical short circuit, others suspect arson. Fortunately, no casualties were reported, but property worth millions of shillings was lost in the incident.
Mr. Mbaaga Kibuuka, the chairperson of Kinoni Town Council, advised business owners to consider insuring their assets, especially when valuable items like vehicles are involved, to prevent financial losses.
