Tears as fire guts school dormitory
Students check their destroyed property. Photo by Yazid Yolisigira
What you need to know:
The cause of the fire has not yet been established but the school administration says they suspect it could have been caused by a short circuit.
Iganga- Property worth more than Shs60 million has been lost in a fire which gutted one of the girl’s dormitories at Bukoyo Secondary School in Iganga District.
The fire broke out in Okoyo House at about 11am and by the time the police fire brigade arrived at the school, about 30 minutes later, property of 87 students had been destroyed.
School authorities said the fire broke when students were sitting for beginning-of-term exams in their respective classes.
“No student was in the dormitory at the time. It was teachers seated at the nearby staff room who saw the smoke and when one of them peeped through the window, he saw the dormitory on fire,” the school head teacher, Mr Ali Kayuyu, said.
Upon learning of the fire outbreak, the students abandoned examination papers and rushed to rescue their property. They were joined by the teachers and some community members to prevent fire from spreading to other dormitories.
The burnt property included books, mattresses, suitcases, national examination certificates, clothes and money.
“I have lost all my belongings except the three exercise books I carried to the classroom. I don’t have notes now and I don’t know what to do,” said Mohamed Sumaya, a Senior Three student before breaking down in tears.
The cause of fire has not yet been established but the school administration suspect electric short circuit. “The damage is huge. We appeal to the ministry of education and other stakeholders for help,” said Mr Kayuyu.
