Three people have died after a fire tore through a rental building in Nansana West, Wakiso District, Uganda, in an incident police are investigating as suspected murder and suicide.

The deceased were identified as the landlady, Violet Nanyombi, and two tenants, Annet Namulondo and her husband, Isabirye Bumali.

The fire broke out in the early hours of Monday, September 28, at a building divided into six rental units. About six other occupants survived.

According to Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, preliminary information indicated that the fire started in Nanyombi’s room shortly after she allegedly pushed her nine-year-old daughter outside.

Nansana West Village chairperson George Mukiibi said Nanyombi had taken her daughter outside shortly before the fire started, giving her money to clear outstanding school fees and a handwritten note described as a will.

Mukiibi said the note mentioned a loan and indicated that Nanyombi was making daily repayments of Sh60,000. It did not state where the loan had been obtained.

Nansana Municipality Mayor Sam Mugabi separately said preliminary information suggested Nanyombi had been under pressure from moneylenders over an unpaid loan.

Mugabi said he had received reports that moneylenders had repeatedly called Nanyombi, but police have not confirmed the alleged loan pressure as the motive for the incident.

By the time firefighters arrived, the fire had intensified, according to Mukiibi, forcing tenants and neighbours to try to contain the blaze using water.

Kampala Metropolitan Regional Police Commander Moses Nanoka said investigators had been deployed to establish what happened and determine the exact cause of the fire.

Police have opened investigations into the three deaths, with homicide officers working to establish the circumstances surrounding the blaze.

Investigators are expected to rely on accounts from survivors and witnesses, as well as evidence recovered from the scene, to establish how the fire started and what led to the deaths.