Major Fire Guts Kalungu Plywood Factory, Millions Lost

A devastating fire swept through the Golden Home Factory, located within the Lwera Wetland system in Kalungu District, on Friday afternoon. The blaze consumed a considerable portion of the facility, leading to the loss of numerous finished plywood products and raw materials essential for production.

The fire reportedly began around 1 PM. While the exact cause remains under investigation, initial accounts point to a nearby fire used for burning tree husks, a byproduct of plywood manufacturing, as a potential trigger.

Emergency services, in collaboration with local residents, worked to contain the inferno and successfully prevented it from spreading to the adjacent Lukaya Natural Rice Farm. Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities were reported during the incident.

Police spokesperson Twaha Kasirye highlighted that the factory management’s delay in alerting authorities may have exacerbated the situation. “They thought they could manage to put out the fire, but it was too strong for them,” Kasirye stated, adding that multiple fire engines were deployed to bring the blaze under control.

He emphasized the critical need for companies with large-scale operations, particularly those dealing with flammable materials, to invest in robust firefighting equipment and immediate response protocols. The factory, situated on a two-acre site, processes highly combustible products, making a well-equipped fire response essential.

Golden Home Factory is a subsidiary of Zhong Industries Ltd, which also operates the nearby Lukaya Natural Rice Farm. Investigations into the precise cause of the fire are ongoing.

Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/fire-destroys-property-worth-millions-at-kalungu-plywood-factory-5558742