Fire burns down school dormitory in Rukungiri
PROPERTY worth millions of shillings was destroyed when fire gutted a school dormitory in Rukungiri district.
By Caleb Bahikaho
PROPERTY worth millions of shillings was destroyed when fire gutted a school dormitory in Rukungiri district.
The boys’ dormitory at Kebisoni Modern SS, accommodating 56 students, burnt down in the fire which started at around 8:30pm on Thursday.
No student was hurt. However, some of the students said their school fees, which they were preparing to pay, burnt up with the rest of their property.
“I had sh230,000 in my bag for my fees and pocket money as well as 5kg of millet flour which I had brought for porridge,†lamented a student, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The New Vision saw charred suitcases and iron sheets strewn all over the floor of the dorm and planks of burnt wood littered the area outside the building.
The ghastly structure stood gaping with some pieces of iron sheets still hanging on the burnt walls.
The cause of the fire, however, has not yet been established but the Police said investigations into the incident were ongoing.
The district Police chief, Godence Ovuru, said he had asked experts from the Fire Brigade in Kampala to help them investigate the source of the fire.
According to the school director, Caleb Mugume, the incident happened when the students were away.
“We were lucky because we have not lost any life as the students were all in class, preparing for-the-beginning of term exams which were supposed to kick off on Saturday.â€
He wondered what could have caused the fire, as the school is not connected to electricity.
Mugume estimated the loss at over sh20m.
However, the district education officer, John Tereraho, said arsonists could have set the dormitory ablaze due to a power struggle at the school.
“You can’t rule out a power struggle as the motive, because the school has not had a head teacher for a year.â€
He directed that the school be closed to allow repairs and the appointment of a substantive head teacher.
On April 14, fire gutted a girls’ dormitory at Budo Junior School in Wakiso district, killing 20 pupils.
It is not yet clear what caused the fire but analysts said arsonists could have set the fire due to discontent within the school.
PROPERTY worth millions of shillings was destroyed when fire gutted a school dormitory in Rukungiri district.
The boys’ dormitory at Kebisoni Modern SS, accommodating 56 students, burnt down in the fire which started at around 8:30pm on Thursday.
No student was hurt. However, some of the students said their school fees, which they were preparing to pay, burnt up with the rest of their property.
“I had sh230,000 in my bag for my fees and pocket money as well as 5kg of millet flour which I had brought for porridge,†lamented a student, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The New Vision saw charred suitcases and iron sheets strewn all over the floor of the dorm and planks of burnt wood littered the area outside the building.
The ghastly structure stood gaping with some pieces of iron sheets still hanging on the burnt walls.
The cause of the fire, however, has not yet been established but the Police said investigations into the incident were ongoing.
The district Police chief, Godence Ovuru, said he had asked experts from the Fire Brigade in Kampala to help them investigate the source of the fire.
According to the school director, Caleb Mugume, the incident happened when the students were away.
“We were lucky because we have not lost any life as the students were all in class, preparing for-the-beginning of term exams which were supposed to kick off on Saturday.â€
He wondered what could have caused the fire, as the school is not connected to electricity.
Mugume estimated the loss at over sh20m.
However, the district education officer, John Tereraho, said arsonists could have set the dormitory ablaze due to a power struggle at the school.
“You can’t rule out a power struggle as the motive, because the school has not had a head teacher for a year.â€
He directed that the school be closed to allow repairs and the appointment of a substantive head teacher.
On April 14, fire gutted a girls’ dormitory at Budo Junior School in Wakiso district, killing 20 pupils.
It is not yet clear what caused the fire but analysts said arsonists could have set the fire due to discontent within the school.