Fire guts Wakiso, Kampala schools
PROPERTY worth millions of shillings was destroyed in fires that gutted dormitories in two schools in Wakiso and Kampala districts over the weekend.
By Vision Reporters
PROPERTY worth millions of shillings was destroyed in fires that gutted dormitories in two schools in Wakiso and Kampala districts over the weekend.
Namalere Girls’ SS in Wakiso was closed down after a mysterious fire, the second in one week, gutted Cambridge dormitory.
Three days earlier, Nkozi dormitory, at the same school, was burnt but no property was destroyed.
The school authorities yesterday refused to comment on the matter.
“This is a private issue and does not involve the press. I have nothing to tell you and there is no need for you to be here,†the school director, Shem Twine, said.
The fire that consumed books, clothes, mattresses, beds and other property was put out by the Police Fire Brigade that arrived at the school about one-and-a-half hours after it started, according to a teacher.
The students said the fire started in the cubicle belonging to S4 students during a power black out.
They added that the electricity was disconnected last week after the first fire incident. The school uses a generator.
“We tried to use the fire extinguishers available but failed,†said a teacher, John Omoding.
Police spokesperson Judith Nabakoba said the fire might have been caused by an electric short circuit.
But the students claimed that the fires were caused by demons, adding that strange things had been happening at the school in the past.
“A demon that possessed our colleague said that we are inconveniencing them because the dormitory was built where they were buried. The fire began from nowhere. We have no electricity or any device that can cause ablaze but were surprised to see the dormitory on fire,†said the student.
Parents rushed to the school to pick their daughters. Juliet Asiimire, a parent, said: “I called the headmaster on Wednesday but he told me it was a minor incident. When I received a call yesterday (Sunday) I decided to pick my daughter.â€
In another incident, fire burnt to ashes a girls’ dormitory at Buziga Islamic Primary School in Makindye on Sunday.
It housed over 130 pupils of P6 and P7.
The mysterious fire broke out when the girls had gone for evening prayers at the mosque.
Headmaster Mayambala Kigozi yesterday said two girls, Zainabu Ali and Aisha Habunya, who were in the dormitory at the time the fire broke out, escaped unhurt. Ali, 13, narrated: “As we were preparing to go and bathe, Habunya told me she smelled something burning and when I looked in the direction she was pointing, I saw fire under one of the beds.â€
The Police fire safety officer, Simon Musoke, said investigations about the cause of fires in schools were underway.
“The number of fires in boarding schools has escalated,†he said, adding that the Fire Brigade managed to stop the fire from spreading to six other dormitories.
Makindye Division deputy resident district commissioner Lt. Kayondo Mulowoza suspected that a group of thugs was behind the rampant school fires.
“This is a tricky situation. Since the beginning of this year, five schools have been burnt. This is the second daytime fire outbreak after Molly and Paul Primary School. I think there is a deliberate move to disorganise the schools.â€
About 10 schools, including Budo Junior School, have been gutted by fire since April.
Compiled by A. Lubwama, Moses Odongo, Flavia Nakagwa and Robert Owiny
PROPERTY worth millions of shillings was destroyed in fires that gutted dormitories in two schools in Wakiso and Kampala districts over the weekend.
Namalere Girls’ SS in Wakiso was closed down after a mysterious fire, the second in one week, gutted Cambridge dormitory.
Three days earlier, Nkozi dormitory, at the same school, was burnt but no property was destroyed.
The school authorities yesterday refused to comment on the matter.
“This is a private issue and does not involve the press. I have nothing to tell you and there is no need for you to be here,†the school director, Shem Twine, said.
The fire that consumed books, clothes, mattresses, beds and other property was put out by the Police Fire Brigade that arrived at the school about one-and-a-half hours after it started, according to a teacher.
The students said the fire started in the cubicle belonging to S4 students during a power black out.
They added that the electricity was disconnected last week after the first fire incident. The school uses a generator.
“We tried to use the fire extinguishers available but failed,†said a teacher, John Omoding.
Police spokesperson Judith Nabakoba said the fire might have been caused by an electric short circuit.
But the students claimed that the fires were caused by demons, adding that strange things had been happening at the school in the past.
“A demon that possessed our colleague said that we are inconveniencing them because the dormitory was built where they were buried. The fire began from nowhere. We have no electricity or any device that can cause ablaze but were surprised to see the dormitory on fire,†said the student.
Parents rushed to the school to pick their daughters. Juliet Asiimire, a parent, said: “I called the headmaster on Wednesday but he told me it was a minor incident. When I received a call yesterday (Sunday) I decided to pick my daughter.â€
In another incident, fire burnt to ashes a girls’ dormitory at Buziga Islamic Primary School in Makindye on Sunday.
It housed over 130 pupils of P6 and P7.
The mysterious fire broke out when the girls had gone for evening prayers at the mosque.
Headmaster Mayambala Kigozi yesterday said two girls, Zainabu Ali and Aisha Habunya, who were in the dormitory at the time the fire broke out, escaped unhurt. Ali, 13, narrated: “As we were preparing to go and bathe, Habunya told me she smelled something burning and when I looked in the direction she was pointing, I saw fire under one of the beds.â€
The Police fire safety officer, Simon Musoke, said investigations about the cause of fires in schools were underway.
“The number of fires in boarding schools has escalated,†he said, adding that the Fire Brigade managed to stop the fire from spreading to six other dormitories.
Makindye Division deputy resident district commissioner Lt. Kayondo Mulowoza suspected that a group of thugs was behind the rampant school fires.
“This is a tricky situation. Since the beginning of this year, five schools have been burnt. This is the second daytime fire outbreak after Molly and Paul Primary School. I think there is a deliberate move to disorganise the schools.â€
About 10 schools, including Budo Junior School, have been gutted by fire since April.
Compiled by A. Lubwama, Moses Odongo, Flavia Nakagwa and Robert Owiny