Mubende District authorities close school boarding section over fire outbreak
Deputy District Education Officer, Mr Kassim Balinda (pictured), said the school is registered as a day school and they were shocked after learning that it was running a boarding section illegally. PHOTO BY JOSEPHINE NNABBAALE
What you need to know:
- He said all dormitories at the school had outlawed triple decker beds and burglar proof windows, and that the school also lacked guards to man security especially at night.
- St. James Secondary School is a church founded school located at Katente Village in Kiyuuni Sub- County, Mubende District. Its boarding section has been accommodating at least 180 students.
MUBENDE. Authorities in Mubende District have shut down the boarding section of St. James Secondary School, days after fire broke out at the school.
In the wee hours of Wednesday morning, fire gutted a boys’ dormitory at the school, burning everything inside to ashes.
Mr Bruno Kitunzi, the school head teacher said: “It is unfortunate that all the 50 Senior Four students who were residing in the ill-fated dormitory lost everything, although no life was lost.”
He suspects that it might have been an arson act since the school operates on solar which has limited chances of causing short circuits.
The Mubende District Police Commander, Martin Okoyo said investigations are already ongoing to determine the cause of the fire outbreak.
However, according to the Deputy District Education Officer, Mr Kassim Balinda, the school is registered as a day school and they were shocked after learning that it was running a boarding section illegally.
“We cannot risk putting the lives of students in danger by allowing the school to operate a boarding section without a license. We are therefore officially closing the boarding section with immediate effect to avoid any further fire incidents,” Mr Balinda said on Friday.
He said all dormitories at the school had outlawed triple decker beds and burglar proof windows, and that the school also lacked guards to man security especially at night.
St. James Secondary School is a church founded school located at Katente Village in Kiyuuni Sub- County, Mubende District. Its boarding section has been accommodating at least 180 students.
