By Dr Kato Abooki Kampala
In most zones of Kampala – from Nansana to Kireka, Bwaise to Makindye – the story is the same. A two-bedroom rental, fully burglar-proofed, housing four, five, sometimes seven people. Outside, it looks secure. Inside, it is a trap waiting for a tragedy.
We have focused so much on protecting ourselves from thieves that we have forgotten how to escape when danger comes from inside.
1. Security That Kills Us
Every window has fixed burglar proofs. Every door has two padlocks. At night, families lock themselves in completely.
In case of a fire outbreak, a gas explosion, or even a domestic attack, how do you get out? In the last two years, Kampala has buried families who burned inside houses that were 100% burglar-proofed. The fire brigade comes late, but even if it comes on time, there is no entry.
We build cages, not homes.
A safe house must have at least one window in each bedroom that can open from inside within seconds. A small hinged section with an inside padlock costs 100,000 shillings to fix. That 100k can save five lives.
2. The Other Danger: Alcohol and Abandoned Children
There is a second, silent crisis.
Many young parents in the city drink heavily. Weekends start on Thursday. When they go out, they leave behind children as young as 2 years, 5 years, alone in the house or with a house attendant – a young girl of 16 or 18 who is also afraid.
What happens if the sigiri falls? If the socket sparks? If a man with bad intentions knocks knowing the parents are away?
The maid cannot break the burglar proofs. The children cannot reach the window. The neighbors don’t have a key. By the time the mother returns at midnight, it is too late.
We have seen it in police reports: Child burnt while parents were in a bar. Baby defiled while left with a caretaker who went to buy Rolex. This is not witchcraft. This is negligence born out of lack of a plan.
Drinking is not the problem alone. The problem is drinking without a safety plan for your children.
3. Too Many Enemies, No Plan
The youth in Kampala today live with pressure – political differences, religious divisions, land conflicts, relationship conflicts, debt. You don’t know who hates you. That fear makes people add more padlocks.
But what is your plan if someone pours petrol on your door? Where do you run with your children? Most families have never discussed it.
WHAT MUST BE DONE
This is not a job for government alone. Landlords, LC1s, parents must act:
For Parents and Youth:
– Stop leaving children alone to go drink. If you must go out, leave them with a trusted adult relative, not just a house girl. And give that person a key and permission to break out.
– Have two keys. One always inside near the door.
– Keep a bucket of sand and water near the kitchen.
– Hold a 10-minute family meeting: “If fire starts in sitting room, we jump through bedroom window. We meet at that mango tree.”
For Landlords:
– Do not rent a house with 100% fixed burglar proofs. Leave at least two openable emergency exits. It is part of your duty.
– Provide a small fire extinguisher or two sand buckets.
– Put the LC1 and police post numbers on the wall.
For LC1 and Community:
– Make fire safety and escape route part of your tenant registration.
– Encourage neighborhood watch – know two neighbors who can respond at 2am.
A house that you cannot escape from is not a secure house. It is a coffin.
We need to burglar-proof our lives from fire, from negligence, and from our own bad habits.
Our children deserve a home that can protect them from thieves, but also let them live if danger comes.
