Child burns to death as father watches Arsenal vs Crystal Palace match

A 6-year-old girl from Nambale Village in Bugiri District, Uganda succumbed to burn injuries as her father allegedly watched an English Premier League match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace last Sunday, October 27.

The deceased's mother, Yudaya Namugere, reportedly left her three children in the company of their father as she went to buy salt in the nearby trading centre.

However, the children’s father, Saleh Mukulu, an ardent Arsenal supporter, left home and went to the centre to watch the football match between North London club, Arsenal, and Crystal Palace that began at 7:30pm Kenyan Time.

Food was cooking on a charcoal jiko, when Mukulu left the house.

According to the village chairperson, Hussein Mulondo, fire broke out when both parents were away.

When the children’s mother, Namugere, returned home, she found her house on fire.

“We managed to rescue two children, but the youngest, Annet Namulondo, was found dead,” Mulondo told The Daily Monitor.

James Mubi, the Busoga East police Spokesman, said preliminary investigations suggested that the fire was caused by the charcoal stove which was left burning in the house.

“It was negligent of the parents to leave the children alone in a house which had a burning charcoal stove,” Mubi told the Ugandan news outlet.

Ali Tibesiga, a resident, told the Monitor that the entire district lacks a fire brigade.