Schools to get lightning conductors
AS the country remains gripped by a series of fatal lightning strikes, the Government yesterday announced plans to have all school buildings insulated against lightning.
By Catherine Bekunda,
S. Candia and I. Kasooha
AS the country remains gripped by a series of fatal lightning strikes, the Government yesterday announced plans to have all school buildings insulated against lightning.
This follows the death of 20 pupils of Runyanya Primary School in Kiryandongo district on Tuesday who were struck by lightning. Many school children and adults were injured.
Education minister Jessica Alupo while meeting journalists at her office yesterday said she would carry out an audit of schools that have conductors in the country, with the view of enforcing installation of the devices in all the institutions
The audit, she said, will establish which schools have lightning conductors and whether they still retain their sensitivity.
“Lightning is a natural calamity which can strike anywhere be it a school or health facility. It is unfortunate we have been affected by this disaster,†she said.
Alupo said her ministry has a policy on lightning conductors, which unfortunately has not been implemented.
“The ministry has a policy on lightning. We call upon local governments to ensure that public institutions have lightning conductors,†Alupo said.
She also disclosed that the Cabinet had set up an inter-ministerial committee under the Office of the Prime Minister to deal with the issue.
The ministry, she said, has sent out a circular sensitising people on how to prevent and manage lightning strikes.
The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Xavier Lubanga, explained that in 2005, they issued a circular to all heads of institution to install lightning arrestors, but it was never implemented. He said this gave rise to unsafe buildings, leading to loss of life.
“We are planning to enhance our efforts and intensify education to pupils on measures to take when lightning strikes,†he said.
In related incidents, two other people were killed and four injured by lightning in two separate incidents earlier in the week in northern Uganda.
The two strikes were in the districts of Kotido and Amuru on Monday and Tuesday respectively.
S. Candia and I. Kasooha
AS the country remains gripped by a series of fatal lightning strikes, the Government yesterday announced plans to have all school buildings insulated against lightning.
This follows the death of 20 pupils of Runyanya Primary School in Kiryandongo district on Tuesday who were struck by lightning. Many school children and adults were injured.
Education minister Jessica Alupo while meeting journalists at her office yesterday said she would carry out an audit of schools that have conductors in the country, with the view of enforcing installation of the devices in all the institutions
The audit, she said, will establish which schools have lightning conductors and whether they still retain their sensitivity.
“Lightning is a natural calamity which can strike anywhere be it a school or health facility. It is unfortunate we have been affected by this disaster,†she said.
Alupo said her ministry has a policy on lightning conductors, which unfortunately has not been implemented.
“The ministry has a policy on lightning. We call upon local governments to ensure that public institutions have lightning conductors,†Alupo said.
She also disclosed that the Cabinet had set up an inter-ministerial committee under the Office of the Prime Minister to deal with the issue.
The ministry, she said, has sent out a circular sensitising people on how to prevent and manage lightning strikes.
The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Xavier Lubanga, explained that in 2005, they issued a circular to all heads of institution to install lightning arrestors, but it was never implemented. He said this gave rise to unsafe buildings, leading to loss of life.
“We are planning to enhance our efforts and intensify education to pupils on measures to take when lightning strikes,†he said.
In related incidents, two other people were killed and four injured by lightning in two separate incidents earlier in the week in northern Uganda.
The two strikes were in the districts of Kotido and Amuru on Monday and Tuesday respectively.