Nansana House Fire: Landlady and Two Tenants Die in Blaze Amid Loan, Rent Dispute

Three people have died in a house fire in Nansana Municipality after a landlady allegedly locked herself and two tenants inside a rental building before the property caught fire.

The incident happened at around 2:00am on Monday, September 28, 2026, at a building in Nansana West Ward that had been divided into six rental units.

The deceased have been identified as landlady Violet Nanyombi and tenants Annet Namulondo and her husband, Isabirye Bumali.

According to police, six other occupants survived the fire.

Landlady Allegedly Left Note Before Fire

Local residents said Nanyombi left behind a handwritten note before the incident, which was reportedly given to her nine-year-old daughter.

The note was described by local leaders as a will and reportedly contained information about who should take care of her daughter and manage her property.

According to the reports, Nanyombi also referred to financial difficulties involving a loan and delays by tenants in paying rent.

She reportedly indicated that the financial pressure had made it difficult for her to meet her loan obligations.

However, authorities have not established the contents of the note as the definitive explanation for the fire, and investigations into the circumstances remain ongoing.

Three Bodies Recovered From Burnt House

Kampala Metropolitan Regional Police Commander SSP Moses Nanoka said police recovered three bodies from the building.

The bodies were reportedly badly burnt, making identification difficult.

Nanoka said homicide investigators would examine the scene and work to establish exactly what happened before and during the fire.

Police also indicated that investigators would establish whether there were any additional victims.

Loan Pressure Reportedly Under Investigation

The incident has drawn attention to claims that Nanyombi was facing financial pressure over a loan.

Nansana Municipality Mayor Sam Mugabi said preliminary information indicated that the landlady had been under pressure from moneylenders.

Local leaders also said she reportedly mentioned a loan in the handwritten note.

One account reported that Nanyombi had been making daily repayments of about Shs60,000, although the lender and exact terms of the loan were not immediately established.

The claims about debt and rent arrears remain part of the circumstances being examined by investigators.

Police Continue Investigations

Police said the investigation is ongoing as detectives work to reconstruct the events surrounding the fire.

Nanoka also urged residents to maintain communication with local police officers and strengthen neighbourhood security arrangements.

The incident has raised concerns about the pressures associated with heavy debt and the potential consequences when financial disputes escalate.

Authorities are expected to rely on forensic examinations, witness statements and other evidence to establish the circumstances that led to the deaths.

The deaths of Nanyombi, Namulondo and Bumali have left the Nansana community mourning as investigations continue into one of the area’s most disturbing recent house-fire incidents.