The destroyed pupils' and school property after Bright Light School dormitory collapsed due to Saturday morning downpour. PHOTO | PATRICK EBONG
What you need to know:
- The four girls were reportedly sleeping on beds adjacent to the door where walls caved in and almost buried them
One pupil was killed and three others injured when heavy rain and strong winds blew off a school dormitory roof and collapsed walls as they slept at around 6:30am on Saturday.
Benisa Lagum, 8, a Primary Three pupil at Bright Light Nursery and Primary School in Wii Lamin Ayila Village, Paidong Parish, Bobi Sub-county, Omoro District, died on the spot after her head was hit by falling bricks and a metallic door.
Her sister Viola Caffy Apio, 12, Primary Four, was among three admitted at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital. Others are Abigel Atim, 11, Primary Five, and Gift Lanyero, 10, Primary Three.
Abigel reportedly suffered fractures from shoulder to knees after bricks fell on her. Lanyero and Apio were discharged Saturday evening, while Atim remains admitted.
Police released Lagum's body to her parents for burial after Scene of Crime Officers documented the scene. A copy of the postmortem report was handed to the family.
Her parents Mr Michael Okullo and Florence Alur are residents of Panyikworo Village, Atiaber Parish, Bungatira Sub-county, Gulu District.
The four girls were reportedly sleeping on beds adjacent to the door where walls caved in and almost buried them, while others in the same room escaped unhurt as walls on other sides curved out.
According to Mr Ben Kizito Acellam, LC5 councillor for Bobi sub-county, the wind blew off the dormitory roof about 30 metres away before the wall collapsed, trapping learners.
The private school is owned by Mr Ibrahim Odongo, a resident of Lelaobaro village.
Mr Chris Woo, Omoro District Secretary for Health, Education and Community Development, condoled the family but warned of a crackdown on unlicensed private schools.
"There are over 60 private schools which are not licensed by the Ministry of Education and Sports. Some of them are very old with dilapidated structures," said Woo, who is also LC5 councillor for Aremo Sub-county.
"So as a council we have decided that from next week; we are going to carry out an operation to close and prosecute the owners of those schools for operating illegally," he added.
He said they awaited police investigations to establish whether death and injuries were due to negligence.
"Some of these private schools operate on dilapidated structures and moreover without adequate security to protect the learners. Last year unknown people invaded a school in Labora Sub-county at night and murdered two learners," Woo said.
SP Patrick Jimmy Okema, Acting PRO for Aswa West and East, said officers were on ground investigating.
"Our Scene of Crime Officers documented to help into investigation of the matter to understand whether it was a result of nature, negligence or there are some criminal elements," Okema, also North Kyoga Regional PRO, said.
Efforts to get comment from school management were futile as known phone numbers were off by press time.
The Ministry of Water and Environment projects above-normal rainfall and warmer-than-average temperatures across Acholi for September to December 2026 season.