Dokolo fire destroys dormitory at Agwata SS
The blaze, which broke out around 1:00 pm as learners were in class, destroyed mattresses, boxes, books, bedsheets, and personal belongings in Justice Aweri House, a dormitory that accommodates Senior Four and Senior Six boys.
A teacher Sam Okullo Okot, Director of studies in the dormitory that was destroyed. (Photo by Hudson Apunyo)
By Hudson Apunyo
Journalists @New Vision
___________________ The dormitory, Justice Rubby Opio Aweri block, that was destroyed by fire on Wednesday at Agwata Secondary School in Dokolo district. (Photo by Hudson Apunyo)
A fire that gutted a boys’ dormitory at Agwata Senior Secondary School in Dokolo District on Wednesday has left 86 students homeless and counting heavy losses.
The blaze, which broke out around 1:00 pm as learners were in class, destroyed mattresses, boxes, books, bedsheets, and personal belongings in Justice Aweri House, a dormitory that accommodates Senior Four and Senior Six boys.
Founded in the 1980s, Agwata SS is among the top-performing schools in Dokolo District and currently has about 900 learners.
Lydia Koli, the deputy headteacher, said the fire is suspected to have been sparked by an electric short circuit from a welding machine. “We first tried to contain it with fire extinguishers and later with water, but it was too strong. We called the fire brigade, which arrived late but helped stop the flames from spreading further,” she explained.
Only one of the two rooms in the dormitory was razed, but the damage left dozens of candidates stranded with nothing.
Emergency Response
The school administration immediately convened an emergency Board of Governors meeting on Thursday and resolved to compensate the affected students with mattresses, bedsheets, and other essentials.
“We hired mattresses and converted two classroom blocks into temporary dormitories,” Koli said. “We are also photocopying notes for students who lost books, and we shall help those whose IDs and examination slips were destroyed to replace them.”
However, the school now faces a new challenge: rehabilitating the damaged dormitory structure while ensuring normal learning continues.
For candidates preparing for national exams, the tragedy has been particularly hard.
Neemrod Omara Otiti, a Senior Four student, recalled detecting a fault. “We were in class when the short circuit sparked on a wire and spread quickly. Within minutes, the whole dormitory was burning. We could not save anything. I lost my mattress, suitcase, shoes, towel, and all my books.”
He added that with the UCE exams fast approaching in October, the school has stepped in to provide notes. “So far, we have received some physics notes, and the ICT lab is helping reproduce more. Our girls, who were not affected, are also sharing their notes with us,” he said.
Looking Ahead
Despite the setback, the school says learning will not be disrupted. Parents have also stepped in to provide pocket money and small personal items lost in the fire.
Police have since opened investigations into the cause of the fire and are expected to release their findings soon.