Wakiso, Uganda | URN | Two pupils have been confirmed dead, and three others injured after a fire gutted dormitories at Hami Junior School in Kagoma, Maganjo B zone, Nabweru Division, and Wakiso District.
The incident occurred at about 10:30 pm, according to Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire, who has identified the deceased as Namusoke Lamia, 8, a Primary One pupil, and Abdu Shakul Bwete, 10, a Primary Three pupil.
The injured pupils are Yusuf Miyingo Alcham, 13, Primary Seven; Hamidu Muyimba, 9, Primary Three; and Hasadu Kazibwe, 7, Primary One at Hami Junior School. Owoyesigyire says the injured pupils were rushed to Bethel Medical Centre for first aid, while the bodies of the deceased were conveyed to the City Mortuary at Mulago for postmortem.
Preliminary police findings indicate that the dormitory was partitioned with wood and had double and triple-decker beds.
The fire at Hami Primary comes a month after two other fire outbreaks at Nakasero Secondary School in Kampala and Baraka Education Centre Primary School in Gombe, Wakiso, which left dormitories burnt and property worth millions of shillings destroyed, although no lives were lost.
Investigations by the Fire and Rescue Services, supported by Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) footage from the two schools, revealed that the fires were deliberately set by students. The primary school pupils reportedly acted out of frustration with boarding school life, while the secondary school student wanted to be transferred from Nakasero Secondary School.
The Kampala Metropolitan area has previously recorded several deadly and destructive school fires, including the October 2022 fire at Salaama School for the Blind in Mukono District that claimed the lives of 11 pupils, and the January 2022 fire at New Crest Junior School in Kibedi, Kawempe, which left four pupils dead.
In a separate incident, fire gutted Ivory Hotel in Nansana West 1B, West Ward, Nansana Division, at about 8:15 p.m. last night. Owoyesigyire says preliminary information indicates the fire followed intermittent power interruptions. Sparks were reportedly observed at a transformer before flames were noticed on the hotel’s rooftop structure.
He says police responded alongside the Fire and Rescue team from the Fire Headquarters and managed to extinguish the fire. The fire affected the rooftop structure, which housed staff quarters and store rooms, destroying property therein. The extent of the damage is yet to be established.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Myers Byonanebye, who heads Fire Operations in the Kampala Metropolitan Area, said electricity is the major cause of fires in the area. He cautioned schools, hotels and the general public to strengthen fire prevention measures, including having electrical installations inspected by qualified personnel and installing fire extinguishers.
“Most of the fires we are experiencing are caused by electricity. We want to appeal to the public that fire incidents are on the increase. Just last week, we registered a fire at our own barracks in Wandegeya and another one at a warehouse in Kireka. People need to be more cautious when dealing with fire. If you are using electricity, you should always engage experts to inspect wiring in schools, dormitories and homes.” Byonanebye said.
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