Nakasongola District authorities close school over fire
Pupils searching through the remains of their property after a school fire left one dead on February 20, 2019. PHOTOS BY DAN WANDERA
What you need to know:
- St Jude Primary School has a population of 1130 pupils with about 450 pupils in boarding section. It is among the best academically performing schools in the district. This is the third school fire in a space of four days.
Authorities in Nakasongola District have closed St Jude Primary School located in Kakooge Town Council following the fire outbreak in the school dormitory that led to the death of a pupil, leaving the matron critically injured.
In an emergency meeting held at the school on Thursday evening, the district authorities observed that the school cannot resume normal classes since all pupils’ belongings got destroyed in the fire.
“We have resolved to close the school for at least one week. Normal classes cannot be conducted in this current situation. We request parents to prepare and bring back their children on March 3. It is unfortunate that we have lost a pupil in this fire. We appeal for calm as Police investigate the actual cause of the fire,” Mr Kajura Lubega, the Nakadongola District Education Officer said.
The school authorities identified the dead pupil as Favor Itaro, a Primary One pupil who died of suffocation. Some pupils registered minor injuries.
Earlier, the Member of Parliament for Nakasongola County, Mr Noah Wanzala Mutebi said they had found out that the ill-fated dormitory had outlawed burglar proof windows which could have made it difficult for the pupils to escape the fire.
“We have also discovered that the children were sleeping on triple-decker beds which is not acceptable. We should, however, not rush to blame anybody for this unfortunate incident,” Mr Mutebi said in an interview with this reporter.
Mr Vianney Tonjeirwe, the school head teacher said the fire started at around 12.00am, but was later contained by teachers with the help of residents and police.
“It is very unfortunate that we have lost a pupil in the fire. We appeal to the police to conduct a thorough investigation to get to the actual cause of this fire,” she said.
State Minister for Works Gen Edward Katumba Wamala who visited the school shortly after the incident, cautioned the public not to rush to blame games, but help the school put in place the required safety standards.
“I have already noted that the school dormitory had burglar proof windows in addition to triple-decker beds. This must be resolved before children report back here,” Gen Katumba said after touring the burnt dormitory.
St Jude Primary School has a population of 1130 pupils with about 450 pupils in boarding section. It is among the best academically performing schools in the district. This was the third school fire in a space of four days. On Monday fire gutted a boys dormitory at St Anthony Roman Catholic Primary School in Sembabule District and all pupils’ property were burnt to ashes. On Wednesday morning another fire gutted a dormitory at Najjanankumbi City Academy in Makindye Division, Kampala and destroyed all the property.
