A serious fire broke out at Smart Mini Supermarket in Busega Kigwaanya Zone, Rubaga Division, Kampala District on the evening of May 6, 2025, around 7:00 PM.
Nateete Police Division has launched an investigation into the cause of the fire. The Uganda Police Force acted quickly after getting the emergency call. The Directorate of Fire and Rescue Services sent several fire trucks from the main fire headquarters in Kampala, along with another firefighting vehicle from Entebbe. Their fast response helped stop the fire from spreading to other buildings nearby.
Although the two-story supermarket building with a basement was completely destroyed, firefighters managed to save some valuable property. Three cars parked nearby and some supermarket items were rescued from the flames. Thankfully, there were no injuries or deaths reported.
The supermarket, unfortunately, had many flammable materials inside, which made the fire stronger and harder to control. The building’s basement is believed to be where the fire started.
According to some workers at the supermarket, welding work was being done on metal shelves in the basement earlier that day and into the evening. It’s believed that sparks from the welding may have landed on or near plastic materials. These plastic items were loaded onto the metal shelves while they were still hot, possibly after the welders had already left. This may have caused the fire to break out after hours.
The police have sealed off the scene of the fire to allow for a thorough investigation. Experts will now examine the area to find out the exact cause of the fire and confirm whether the welding work was responsible.
Police are urging businesses to follow proper safety procedures, especially when using welding equipment near flammable materials. More updates will follow as the investigation continues.
