Fire Destroys Property Worth Millions at Plywood Factory in Kalungu

Property worth millions of shillings has been destroyed after a fire gutted Golden Home Plywood Factory in Lwera, Lukaya Town Council, Kalungu District.

According to workers, the fire broke out at about 1:00 p.m. and is suspected to have started from rubbish that was being burnt near the factory.

The workers said strong winds may have carried the flames to the plywood, causing the fire to spread rapidly across the factory premises.

Factory manager Carol Tusiime said the fire destroyed large quantities of plywood stored across an area of about five acres, as well as fuel tanks, production machinery and other property.

She said no one was injured in the incident, a position also confirmed by police.

“The fire destroyed a lot of property, including plywood, fuel tanks and machinery used in production. Fortunately, no one was injured, but we have lost millions of shillings,” Tusiime said.

Workers at the factory expressed concern about their livelihoods following the destruction, with some fearing possible job losses if the factory is unable to resume operations.

Masaka Regional Police spokesperson Twaha Kasirye said police had opened investigations to establish the exact cause of the fire.

Kasirye also urged owners of factories and other large businesses to acquire firefighting equipment, citing limited firefighting resources in the Masaka area.

He said the fire had already spread extensively by the time police were alerted, making it difficult to contain.

“We urge owners of companies like this one to have firefighting equipment. By the time police were informed, the fire had already spread. People initially thought they could contain it, but it became difficult, prompting them to call for additional support from police,” Kasirye said.

He said firefighters, with support from residents, managed to save some property using fire trucks from Masaka and Kampala.

According to Kasirye, about five firefighting trucks were involved in efforts to contain the blaze.

He urged members of the public to immediately alert police and other relevant authorities whenever they notice a fire to minimise damage.

“If we had been alerted earlier, much more property could have been saved. I urge residents to notify police as soon as they notice a fire,” he said.

Despite efforts by police, residents and firefighters to contain the blaze, the fire continued to spread through parts of the factory at the time of reporting.

Police investigations are ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the fire and assess the full extent of the damage.