Kamuli school dormitory torched, suspended candidate blamed

Soot is seen on the walls of Kamuli Township school dormitory that was burnt by fire on July 17, 2019. PHOTO BY OPIO SAM CALEB

Detectives investigating a fire that gutted a boys’ dormitory at Kamuli Township School on Wednesday night say they cannot rule out arson after 'an empty bottle smelling paraffin' was found in a girls' latrine, police have said.
Detectives led by the District CID Officer, Ms Joyce Atwoko, on Thursday said they have recovered a plastic bottle smelling paraffin from the girls' latrine which they believe was emptied by the arsonist while starting the inferno.

The fire, that is reported to have started at around 8.30pm as pupils were in their classes for night preps, is said to have been started by a Primary Seven candidate who was suspended for assaulting colleagues.
“We are on the ground and because of the sensitivity of the crime, we have deployed seasoned detectives and shall leave no stone unturned,” Mr Ahmed Madiri, the Kamuli DPC said.
The Kamuli Resident District Commissioner, Mr Moses Dumba, told journalists at the scene that the incident should not be taken lightly as school fires have hidden motives, part of which is meant to discredit government.

Mr Dumba asked the school to give the children a few days off to heal psychologically and commended the community and police for their quick response amidst inadequacy.
"This is an eye-opener and security factor we need to critically follow to the core. I am happy that senior investigators are handling it; so let us volunteer information and take any information seriously,” he said.
The school headmaster, Mr John Luweire, said the school was 'lucky' that the pupils were out for night preps and only property was destroyed, adding that the girls were too scared to sleep in their dormitory.

Amidst tears, some of the boys who didn't want to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter, alleged that their colleague, who was suspended and denied to register for this year's Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) had ignited the fire.
According to them, the fire started from the door, but prior to the incident, their colleague was reportedly seen lurking around the school. However, when one of them tried to confide in one of the teachers, he was instead reprimanded for 'spreading scary rumours'.
The UPE School has a population of 2,062 pupils (994 boys and 1,068 girls).