A devastating fire has gutted the medical staff quarters at Mityana General Hospital, destroying several buildings and essential property belonging to health workers.
The blaze, which reportedly broke out at around 4:30 pm, spread rapidly through the staff housing block, consuming furniture, medical equipment, personal belongings, and vital work tools, including mattresses, uniforms, drugs, and laptops used by hospital staff.
By the time fire rescue teams arrived, the flames had already engulfed most of the structures. Witnesses described scenes of panic as health workers and residents rushed to save whatever property they could.
“The fire started so suddenly and spread very fast. By the time we noticed, it had already covered the entire block,” said a nurse who lives within the hospital quarters.
“We tried using water and sand before the firefighters arrived, but it was too strong.”
Firefighters battled for hours to contain the blaze, but strong winds and the wooden roofing materials made it difficult to extinguish.
According to preliminary reports from eyewitnesses, the cause of the fire is still unknown, although some residents suspect it could have been triggered by an electrical short circuit.
Police and district authorities have launched investigations to establish the exact cause.
Local leaders described the loss as a major setback, especially for medical staff who have now lost accommodation and work tools.
“This tragedy has disrupted the lives of our medical workers and could temporarily affect service delivery,” said Wotonava Fred, Mayor of Central Division. “We appeal to the Ministry of Health and the district leadership to intervene urgently and help us restore normalcy.”
By press time, police were still on site assessing the damage, while hospital management worked to relocate affected staff to temporary shelters as they awaited further support.
The incident adds to a growing list of fire outbreaks in public institutions, raising renewed concerns over fire safety measures and the need for routine inspection of electrical systems in government facilities.