UGANDA, Jinja | Real Muloodi News | In a devastating incident that unfolded on January 23, a married couple in Arua City lost their lives in a house fire that broke out at Okuazaku Cell in Arivu Ward, Ayivu East Division.
The victims, identified as 20-year-old Lillian Anguezaru Fungaro and her 30-year-old husband Emmanuel Adima, succumbed to the flames that engulfed their residence during the night.
According to reports, the couple had spent the day attending to their daily chores and business activities before returning home.
Tragedy struck at 11:30 pm when a fire erupted while they were sleeping. Despite efforts by locals to contain the fire, it rapidly escalated, fueled by petrol stored in the ill-fated house.
West Nile Regional Police Public Relations Officer Josephine Angucia disclosed that when the fire brigade arrived at the scene, they found the residential house ablaze, and Lillian Anguezaru had already been burnt beyond recognition.
Emmanuel Adima, her husband, was critically injured and subsequently passed away on Wednesday evening due to severe burns sustained all over his body.
Preliminary investigations by the police suggest that Emmanuel Adima was involved in the illegal trade of fuel from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.
The tragic incident occurred when Adima reportedly lit a matchbox near the fuel containers, leading to a catastrophic blaze.
The police fire brigade managed to extinguish the fire, but not before significant damage was inflicted on the building and its contents.
Authorities have highlighted the dangers associated with smuggling fuel from across the DR Congo border, emphasising the need for proper storage facilities to prevent such tragic events.
The incident serves as a grim reminder of the risks involved in dealing with flammable substances, urging heightened vigilance and adherence to safety measures to avert similar disasters in the future.
READ MORE LIKE THIS: