Fire disrupts flights at Uganda's only international airport

By Godfrey Olukya

KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) - A fire disrupted flights to and from Uganda on Tuesday at the only international airport serving the East African country, according to officials.

The blaze was spotted in the afternoon at Entebbe International Airport, roughly 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the capital Kampala, in a terminal building, said Vianney Luggya, the spokesman for the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority.

Luggya told reporters that the fire was caused by a short circuit caused by ongoing expansion work at the airport, noting that passengers were evacuated from the terminal until the fire was extinguished.

"The fire started in the terminal building. Smoke was seen coming from the ceiling," he said, adding that firefighting teams of the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority had responded to the incident.

Police are conducting an investigation into the cause of the fire. This was the second fire to break out at the facility in seven months.