Fire at school hall

Tuesday evening almost turned black for learners and the authorities at Kabalega secondary school in Masindi district after a fire broke out in one of the school halls.

The fire that started at about 7:00 pm in the ceiling Lumumba hall while students were in class for evening preps. According to a teacher who preferred anonymity, they first heard loud sparks coming from Lumumba hall before a huge cloud of smoke and fire broke out.

“We saw a huge plume of smoke emerging from Lumumba hall while we were in evening preps. We got out immediately and used the fire extinguisher to put out the fire,” the teacher explained.

<a href="http://<!– wp:paragraph –> <p>Schools across the Kampala Metropolitan area have continued to experience incidents of fire outbreak, in some incidents leading to fatalities. The latest is a fire that broke out in Seeta at St Mary's Junior School Seeta located in Mukono Municipality. </p> <!– /wp:paragraph –> <!– wp:paragraph –> <p>The fire started at 11:00 am at the girl's dormitory and later spread across other rooms reducing property worth millions to ashes. </p> <!– /wp:paragraph –> <!– wp:paragraph –> <p>Asp Luke Owoyesigyire, the Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Spokesperson, told our reporter Minah Nalule that the exact cause of the fire is yet to be established as investigations have already commenced. He adds that no child was injured in the incident because they were in class at the time, except for their property that vanished in the fire.</p> The school authorities suspect that the spark could have resulted from a short circuit. The Headteacher Andrew Tumwesige says no deaths, injuries or destroyed property was recorded in the incident because they were swift in putting out the fire.

Julius Hakiza, the Albertine region police spokesperson, says police is still trying to acertain the cause of the fire . He adds by the time police fire and rescue team arrived at the scene, the fire had already been contained.

This is the second time that Kabalega Secondary School is on the spot for unusual happenings. On February 05, 2022, a S.6 student 21, identified as Edmond Turyasiima, was found dead in the dormitory under unclear circumstances. Investigations into his demise are still ongoing.

In a space of one month, several schools across the country have experienced incidents of fire outbreak and in some instances fatalities.

Fire at school hall

On January, 15, New Crest Junior at Kibedi Day and Boarding Primary School in Kawempe Division Kampala City, lost four children after a viscous fire outbreak. The fire broke-out at 3:00 am today at the girls’ dormitory, roasting four female pupils beyond recognition and injuring three are seriously injured. The deceased aged between six and seven years have been identified as Tina Deng, 6, Nabawesigo Sheran 6, Nakawuki Hassania ,7, Nakalazi Juliana ,7.

Similarly, on January 15, 2022 a nine-year-old, Savio Mark Sserugga, a Primary Four pupil died, several other learners were injured and property burnt to ashes when a fire broke out at St John’s Primary School in Kyotera. Hassan Hiwumbire, the Kyotera District Police Commander, says the investigating team is still camping at the school, looking for clues to facilitate their inquest and arrest.

In Wakiso district at St. Cecilia Primary School at Kikajjo zone, Masajja parish in Makindye-Ssabagabo caufgt fire on Sunday, while the other was recorded at Nanziga SDA Primary School in Maya on Monday. Both incidents affected the boys dormitories.

The latest is a fire broke out in Seeta at St Mary’s Junior School Seeta located in Mukono Municipality. The fire started at 11:00 am at the girl’s dormitory and later spread across other rooms reducing property worth millions to ashes.

No child was injured in the incident because they were in class at the time, except for their property that vanished in the fire.

Last week, the Police Director for fire and rescue services Assistant Inspector General of Police, Joseph Mugisa, disclosed that majority of the recent school fires are deliberate. However, Mugisa added that they are yet to establish the motives of setting schools ablaze.

“Majority were as a result of suspected deliberate action by unknown people,That’s what we have established. It was for unknown reasons so far, but that is what we have established,” Mugisa said.