Livelihoods Gone: Over 200 Left Homeless, Property Destroyed in Kassanda Inferno

Livelihoods Gone: Over 200 Left Homeless, Property Destroyed in Kassanda Inferno

KASSANDA DISTRICT: 20 JUNE 2026— Police in Wamala Region are investigating a devastating afternoon fire that gutted Kikadde Trading Center in Lwensambya Village, Kitumbi Sub-County, leaving over 200 residents stranded and property worth millions of shillings destroyed.

The incident occurred on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at approximately 4:40 PM.

According to eyewitnesses, the inferno was sparked by an illegal electricity connection gone wrong. A local uncertified electrician (commonly known as a kamyufu), identified only as Kizza, reportedly climbed one of the main electricity poles in the trading center to tamper with the power supply.

When the wires began violently sparking, Kizza panicked, scrambled down the pole, and fled the scene. The sparks quickly intensified, igniting a massive fire that rapidly spread through the closely packed trading center.

The fire razed down a significant portion of Kikadde Trading Center, destroying:Multiple residential houses, Retail shops,A local clinic, and Several semi-permanent structures.

More than 200 residents have been heavily affected, with many watching helplessly as their homes and livelihoods went up in flames.

The village chairperson, Mr. Lwamulinda Stephen, officially reported the matter to the authorities. Police officers have since visited and documented the scene, and statements from several eyewitnesses have been recorded.

The suspect, Kizza, remains at large as police intensify their search for him.

A Stern Warning to the Public

In a statement released after the incident, the Wamala Region Police Public Relations Officer, SSP Lameck Kigozi, strongly condemned the practice of unauthorized power interference.

”We inform the public to desist from illegal power connections,” SSP Kigozi warned. “It is dangerous to life and property, and also carries severe penal reprisal when the law zeroes on the perpetrator.”

Investigations into the exact extent of the financial and structural damage are still ongoing. Residents are currently pleading for emergency relief as they figure out their next steps.

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