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Grid infrastructureUgandaEIR-1053

Fire destroys Mulago power sub-station in Kampala

2013Published 18 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

SignificantThermal / fireProvisional
Estimated damageEstimated by the register's adjusterHow? Know the real figure?
Figure hidden: shown to subscribersMedium confidence
supply cut for about •• daysShown in the record →Full estimate
From the recordRoot cause hidden
Where
Mulago power sub-station in Kampala, Uganda
Operator
Umeme
What
Fire destroyed the facility and cut power to wide areas
Cause
Not reported

Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): Umeme

What happened

A fire at the Mulago power sub-station in Kampala, Uganda, destroyed the facility and cut power to the central business district, upscale residential areas, parts of Entebbe, Bombo and some areas of western Uganda. Witnesses said the fire started at about 9am and lasted about 20 minutes before the fire brigade arrived. Police were reported to have arrived almost 45 minutes after the facilities had burnt. Umeme said the sub-station was one of its most important and that it was trying to reconnect some areas as quickly as possible. Unnamed sources said power could be rerouted from other city sub-stations. How long the blackout would last was not stated.

Contributing factors

A Umeme manager hinted that the fire could have come from electricity wire interruptions. No confirmed cause was reported.

Lessons learned

  1. A key sub-station needs fast local fire response. Delays let the fire destroy the whole facility.
  2. Major sub-stations need ready reroutes. Loss of one site cut power across many districts.

Not yet known

  • Exact cause of the fire
  • Duration of the blackout
  • Cost of damage and repairs

This entry is updated when these are reported. Get an alert for the next one like it.

Source

monitor.co.ug

Published 2026-09-18. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

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