Three Dead As Landlady Allegedly Sets Nansana Rental House Ablaze

Three people, including a landlady, have died in a house fire in Nansana West Ward after the landlady allegedly set the building ablaze in the early hours of Monday. Police said the fire broke out at about 2:00 a.m. in a house that had been partitioned into six rental units.

The landlady, identified as Violet Nanyombi, is also believed to have died in the fire. Two tenants who perished have been identified as Annet Namulondo and her husband, Isabirye Bumali.

The village Chairperson George Mukiibi confirmed the incident. According to Mukiibi, Nanyombi reportedly led her nine-year-old daughter out of the house before the fire started. She reportedly gave the child money to clear outstanding school fees and a handwritten note containing a will.

Mukiibi said the note identified who should take care of the child and manage Nanyombi’s property until the girl turns 18. “In the note found with her nine-year-old daughter, it was just a will, with no clear reason why she decided to end her life. But in that will, she also mentioned that she had a loan, without disclosing where she got it from, saying she was paying Shs60,000 daily,” Mukibi said.

He said the fire had intensified by the time the fire brigade arrived, forcing tenants and neighbours to attempt to contain it using water. Mukiibi described Nanyombi as a very reserved person and said the circumstances that led to the incident remain unclear.

Nansana Municipality Mayor Sam Mugabi, however, said preliminary information suggests that Nanyombi had been under pressure from moneylenders over an unpaid loan.

“I have received information that she was being harassed by money lenders, who kept calling her from morning to evening yesterday. We should be cautious with money lenders; that is why she was even able to write her will before taking her own life,” Mugabi said.

Mugabi urged community members to speak to neighbours, local leaders or religious leaders when they notice people facing distress that could lead to suicide, particularly where others may also be placed at risk.

Kampala Metropolitan Regional Police Commander SSP Moses Nanoka said the incident also highlights the importance of stronger neighbourhood security and communication with police.

“If we had received the call earlier, we might have saved more lives. So far, we have recovered three bodies, and we are waiting for homicide teams to arrive and conduct further investigations we could find more bodies. The teams will also help us establish what exactly caused the incident,” Nanoka said.

Nanoka urged residents to ensure they have contact details for police officers responsible for their areas and to strengthen neighbourhood watch arrangements.

He also cautioned residents to exercise care when using cooking appliances and to keep flammable materials away from sleeping areas. Police said homicide investigators were expected at the scene to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and determine what caused the fire.

The Nansana incident comes months after a separate incident in Bunga, Makindye Division, where a woman locked herself inside her house and stabbed her five children, killing two and injuring three, before stabbing herself and attempting to set the house ablaze-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: [email protected]

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