A devastating fire broke out in Lwengo District on the night of March 27, 2025, claiming the lives of two young children and leaving another injured.
Monica Mirembe , 6, and Aloysius Mugisha , 5, died in the fire, while their older sibling, 9-year-old Hakuzimana Antonio, survived but was injured.
According to Twaha Kasirye, the Greater Masaka Regional Spokesperson, the children’s mother had left home around 8:00 pm to deliver food to her husband, who was working in a nearby village.
“The mother of the children had left home around 8:00 pm to deliver food to her husband, who was working in a nearby village. Upon her return, she found that the children had been burnt to ashes, and residents were attempting to put out the fire,” the police statement reads.
In the mother’s absence, Hakuzimana lit a candle before going to sleep with his younger siblings. Tragically, the candle ignited a mosquito net and mattress, causing the fire to spread quickly throughout the house.
“We have since established that after the mother left the children to deliver food to her husband, the older child, Hakuzimana Antonio, 9, lit a candle, and the children went to sleep. Unfortunately, the candle ignited the mosquito net and mattress, which quickly spread to the rest of the house,” the police added.
Hakuzimana managed to escape the fire and ran to the neighborhood for help. Despite the swift response of residents, they were unable to save the two younger children, as the fire had already consumed the house.
“The older child managed to escape and ran to the neighbourhood for help. Although the neighbors responded promptly, they were unable to save the two younger children, Mirembe Monica, 6, and Mugisha Aloysius, 5, as the fire had already engulfed the house,” the police statement confirmed.
Authorities have urged the public to exercise caution when using candles or other open flames, particularly around children, to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
