No lives were lost, but a massive fire that engulfed a popular supermarket in Busega on Tuesday night left behind smoldering ruins and millions of shillings in property losses.
Smart Mini Supermarket, located near the Shell fuel station and known for its extensive range of children’s play items—including toy cars, bicycles, and household goods—was completely destroyed in the blaze.
The fire broke out around 8:00 PM and raged for more than six hours, repeatedly flaring up despite efforts by firefighters and local residents.
Owned by businessman Muzira Ngo, the supermarket had earned a reputation in the Busega area for its high-end children’s merchandise, drawing in families from across Kampala.
By Wednesday morning, all that remained were charred shelves, melted plastics, and smoke rising from the debris.
Eyewitnesses reported that the fire began on the ground floor before rapidly spreading to the upper levels of the building. At least five fire trucks responded, rotating to supply water as teams struggled to control the blaze.
Residents joined the firefighting effort, forming human chains and helping prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent structures.
Several staff members braved the flames to rescue safes and other valuables, but the bulk of merchandise was lost. Though no fatalities were reported, authorities had yet to confirm whether any injuries were sustained.
Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and Lubaga South MP Aloysius Mukasa visited the scene early Wednesday. Lukwago expressed sympathy to the business owner and reiterated the urgent need for Kampala to strengthen its disaster preparedness.
“This fire speaks to a larger issue,” Lukwago said. “We need better fire response infrastructure, especially in growing commercial hubs like Busega.”
Police have not established the exact cause of the fire. However, security sources told Daily Monitor that the supermarket had previously survived a suspected arson attempt, which was thwarted by Nateete Police following a standoff with suspects.
Investigations are underway to determine whether the two incidents are linked.
Crowds continued to gather at the scene on Wednesday as volunteers picked through the rubble for salvageable items. A temporary barricade remained in place to preserve the site for investigators.
The incident has reignited debate about fire safety standards in Kampala, especially in densely built commercial areas where emergency access and fire prevention measures remain inadequate.