Newly refurbished Uganda House located on Kenyatta Avenue in Nairobi, was set ablaze on June 25, 2024, during deadly protests in Kenya on Tuesday.
The protests, which have been marked by escalating tensions and violence, resulted in significant damage to the six-floor building, which was slated for reopening on June 28, 2024.
According to a press release from the Ugandan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ground floor of Uganda House was occupied by commercial tenants, while the other floors, including the third floor previously housing the Consular Office, had been vacated for renovations.
The fire department of Nairobi responded promptly to the incident, successfully extinguishing the blaze and preventing further destruction.
Fortunately, no fatalities or serious injuries were reported.
“While there is extensive damage to the property, we are grateful that there are no reported fatalities or serious injuries that have been identified so far. It is also important to note that none of the Diplomatic or Consular staff were in the building at the time the fire broke out,” the statement released by PS Vincent Bagirre says.
The Ugandan government has commended the Nairobi Fire Department for their swift action. It was also confirmed that no diplomatic or consular staff were present in the building at the time of the fire.
Kampala has expressed regret over the incident, emphasizing the importance of peaceful demonstrations and condemning the violence that led to the destruction of property.
“Our relations with the Government and indeed the People and Republic of Kenya remain solid,” stated Bagirre. “We support peaceful demonstrations as a democratic right but we condemn in the strongest terms, violence that leads to destruction of property and loss of lives.”
The Ugandan government has called for calm and urged against unnecessary speculation or premature conclusions. Investigations into the matter are ongoing, and the authorities have requested patience to allow for a thorough examination of the circumstances surrounding the fire.
