Three medical wards at Rukooki Health Centre IV in Kasese Municipality have been gutted by fire.

By Baluku Alex

At least three medical wards at Rukooki Health Centre IV in Nyamwamba Division of Kasese Municipality have been gutted by fire.

The incident that occurred today morning at around 01:00 A.M left the maternity ward, postnatal ward and antenatal clinic totally destroyed. Important documents, computers and furniture worth millions of shillings have also been destroyed.

Keren Happy, a midwife who was on night duty says all the patients in the affected wards ran unhurt. According to her, the police were alerted and swung into action to prevent the fire from extending to other wards including the theatre.

Dr. Kayiri Kathembo, the Health Centre in-charge has since appealed to the government to come to the people’s rescue by replacing the already destroyed wards.

The Kasese Municipality Mayor, Chance Kahindo Sibyabugha who regretted the incident described it as another disaster that has befallen his area of jurisdiction.

Kasese District Chairperson, Eliphaz Muhindi Bukombi said it was unfortunate for the health facility that had been identified to start Covid-19 testing to be gutted by fire.

Police in Kasese immediately launched investigations to ascertain the cause of the fire.

Nelson Tumushime, the Rwenzori East Police Spokesperson says though the current investigations point at a short circuit to be the cause of the fire, police will still investigate more.