Mysterious fires haunts Lugari preachers' family

Husband and wife preachers in Panpaper village, Lugari, are distraught over four mysterious fires that have reduced them to poverty since April.

Esther Amunga told the press on Friday her family cannot understand the cause of the fires that have destroyed hundreds of thousands of shillings of property.

The first fire was in April.

“We first thought it was caused by an electric fault, but even after disconnecting power from the house and shop, this fire has continued to haunt us,” Amunga said.

No one has been seen setting the fires.

The fires have started  as soon as Amunga and her husband are out on other duties, leaving their children at home.  

“I am always outside home with my husband doing other duties when this fire strikes to consume property in our house,” she said.

The most recent fire was was on Thursday. It consumed their main house but it was put out by neighbours.

A few minutes later it began burning their son's property inside his house. Again, neighbours extinguished it.

Amunga and her husband  are preachers at Panpaper African Ministry of Healing.

They said they are seeking God's guidance through prayer to unveil the mystery that has brought misery to their family.

Her husband Thomas did not have enough energy to talk to the press, following Thursday’s inferno but called the situation "unbearable".

He did appeal for help from well-wishers because the fires destroyed much of their property over four months.

Neighbour Sophia Tito said she helped put out the bizarre fires in her neighbours' house four times.

Sophia said the alarm from children in her neighbour’s house always notifies her to mobilise villagers and boda boda riders to put out the blaze.

“I am shocked by the recurring fires in my neighbours’ house. This is unique and will need a deeper understanding of these happenings,” she said.

Villagers also expressed their distress and worry over the disastrous fires in their neighbour's house.

They called on anyone who might help or find an answers to visit their village and help the family.

(Edited by V. Graham)