Police in Mbarara have confirmed the death of Fred Tumusiime, a 55-year-old businessman who sustained severe injuries after a devastating late-night fire gutted his electronics shop.
Tumusiime, a resident of Nyakaizi, Kakoba Division, died at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, where he had been admitted in critical condition following the incident.
The Rwizi Regional Police Spokesperson, Samson Kasasira, said Tumusiime succumbed to severe burns at around 10am on Tuesday while receiving treatment.
"Tumusiime, a resident of Nyakaizi, Kakoba Division, succumbed to severe burns at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, where he had been rushed in critical condition and was pronounced dead at about 10am on Tuesday," Kasasira said.
The fire broke out at approximately 10:45pm on Monday inside Tumusiime’s electronics shop located in a commercial building along Bishop Wills Street in Mbarara City.
According to police, the businessman was trapped inside the premises when the fire started, leaving him unable to escape without sustaining life-threatening injuries.
Kasasira said preliminary findings indicate that neighbours heard a blast shortly before the shop doors opened and flames spread inside the premises.
"Preliminary findings indicate that the businessman was trapped inside the premises when the flames erupted, leaving him no room to escape without sustaining fatal injuries. Neighbours also reported hearing a blast before the doors opened and the fire erupted," he said.
The Police Fire and Rescue Services team responded quickly and managed to contain the blaze, preventing it from spreading to neighbouring shops, other rooms and upper floors of the building.
However, the contents of Tumusiime’s electronics shop were completely destroyed.
"The Fire and Rescue team managed to extinguish the fire. Although there was total damage to the property in the shop, the fire was stopped from spreading to other rooms," Kasasira said.
By Tuesday, police investigators and forensic experts were still examining the remains of the burnt shop as they sought to establish the exact cause of the fire.
Authorities said investigations into the incident are ongoing.
The tragedy has left both a human and financial toll, with the businessman losing his life and his electronics business destroyed in the inferno.
