Fire guts Luwero's Ndejje Vocational SS
EXAMINATIONS came to a standstill at Ndejje Vocational Secondary School in Luweero district yesterday when fire gutted three girls’ dormitories, destroying all the property of the students.
By Cyprian Musoke
EXAMINATIONS came to a standstill at Ndejje Vocational Secondary School in Luweero district yesterday when fire gutted three girls’ dormitories, destroying all the property of the students.
According to the headmaster, Amos Kabanda, the fire started at about midday from a dormitory at the far end and spread to the neighbouring dormitories which are separated by a wall.
One of the students, Safina Nagadya, who was locked inside the dormitory by the time the fire broke out, was pulled out through the window because the matron, who had the key, could not be traced.
Three others fainted as a result of shock and were rushed to health clinics in Ndejje trading centre.
Kabanda said he had just left the site where they are constructing six other dormitories to increase the space, as requested by the Education Standards Agency, when the fire broke out. “Since the school is under USE, we were expecting more in-take next year,†he explained.
“No sooner had I started moving to the construction site than I saw students running. When I went to the scene, I saw fire. We tried to contain it with fire extinguishers, together with the officer in charge of Ndejje Police station, until the fire brigade came.â€
According to Assistant
Superintendent Simon Musoke, the fire brigade delayed because the road was under construction.
“We had locked the dormitories because the students were doing examinations,†recounted Fred Kaggwa, a teacher.
“Some students who were behind the dormitory heard an explosion. We all ran and tried to save the dormitories but the fire spread very fast.â€
He ruled out the possibility that the fire was started by a candle since the administration banned them and students were searched when the school re-opened for the term.
Luweero CID chief Oweka Kibwota Buneri said the Police were interrogating several students. “We believe it could have been arson because there was a blast. But we have not yet concluded.â€
Over 30 fires have broken out in schools across the country since the April inferno at Budo Junior School in which 20 pupils died.
Preliminary Police findings show that over half of them were started, mostly by students as revenge for disciplinary action meted out on them by school administrations.
“We are saddened because this school helps people from the area. It is a big loss,†said Luweero Diocese Bishop Evans Mukasa.
EXAMINATIONS came to a standstill at Ndejje Vocational Secondary School in Luweero district yesterday when fire gutted three girls’ dormitories, destroying all the property of the students.
According to the headmaster, Amos Kabanda, the fire started at about midday from a dormitory at the far end and spread to the neighbouring dormitories which are separated by a wall.
One of the students, Safina Nagadya, who was locked inside the dormitory by the time the fire broke out, was pulled out through the window because the matron, who had the key, could not be traced.
Three others fainted as a result of shock and were rushed to health clinics in Ndejje trading centre.
Kabanda said he had just left the site where they are constructing six other dormitories to increase the space, as requested by the Education Standards Agency, when the fire broke out. “Since the school is under USE, we were expecting more in-take next year,†he explained.
“No sooner had I started moving to the construction site than I saw students running. When I went to the scene, I saw fire. We tried to contain it with fire extinguishers, together with the officer in charge of Ndejje Police station, until the fire brigade came.â€
According to Assistant
Superintendent Simon Musoke, the fire brigade delayed because the road was under construction.
“We had locked the dormitories because the students were doing examinations,†recounted Fred Kaggwa, a teacher.
“Some students who were behind the dormitory heard an explosion. We all ran and tried to save the dormitories but the fire spread very fast.â€
He ruled out the possibility that the fire was started by a candle since the administration banned them and students were searched when the school re-opened for the term.
Luweero CID chief Oweka Kibwota Buneri said the Police were interrogating several students. “We believe it could have been arson because there was a blast. But we have not yet concluded.â€
Over 30 fires have broken out in schools across the country since the April inferno at Budo Junior School in which 20 pupils died.
Preliminary Police findings show that over half of them were started, mostly by students as revenge for disciplinary action meted out on them by school administrations.
“We are saddened because this school helps people from the area. It is a big loss,†said Luweero Diocese Bishop Evans Mukasa.