JINJA: Two people have died in a Thursday morning fire at Holy Healing Ministries International Church, in Mpumudde ward in Jinja City South division.
The two males, whose identities are yet to be disclosed, were part of the people who converged on the church for overnight prayers on Wednesday.
It is alleged that the fire sprouted from the rooftop, weakening it and forcing it to collapse on some of the congregants who were praying near the pulpit. Seven worshippers escaped, but the two males were trapped in the fire.
The fire destroyed the makeshift wooden church. The police fire and rescue team tried to put out the fire in vain.
One of the congregants told URN, on condition of anonymity, that the church was set ablaze at about 7:00 am when the biggest part of the congregation had departed.
He says that the deceased had stayed back to pray only to be trapped in the fire. The operators of the church are yet to release an official statement on the incident.
The Kira Region Police spokesperson, James Mubi, says that the deceased’s bodies have been taken to Jinja Regional Referral Hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem.
He says police will have a comprehensive report pertaining to the incident after thoroughly examining the fire scene.
