Another Kampala school burns
Jul 28, 2009
FIRE on Monday night gutted a Senior Three girls’ dormitory at Crane High School in Kitintale, a Kampala suburb, burning all the students’ property.
By Agnes Kyotalengerire
FIRE on Monday night gutted a Senior Three girls’ dormitory at Crane High School in Kitintale, a Kampala suburb, burning all the students’ property.
The blaze, whose cause is not yet known, started at 7:30pm as the students attended night revision.
“All the dormitories were locked but thick smoke was noticed by students coming from the girls’ dormitory,†said Peter Birungi, the school director.
Using fire extinguishers, sand and water, staff and students fought the fire.
A team of Police fire fighters later joined them and put out the fire before it could spread to two nearby dormitories.
About 20 girls, who fainted, were treated for shock at a nearby health facility. Some sustained cuts in a stampede that ensued.
Stephen Kibaya, the school security guard, said besides fighting to put out the fire, they also had to ensure that the panicking students were kept away to avoid getting burnt as they tried to save their property.
The Police barred the residents from entering the school with the exception of parents who had come to collect their children.
Head teacher Onesmas Munanura and the matron, Prosy, were taken at 9:30pm to the Jinja Road Police Station to record statements.
Earlier on Sunday night, the girls reportedly demonstrated over the caning of their fellow student, who was found with a mobile phone charger and was suspected to possess a mobile phone.
But Burungi described the matter as having been “minorâ€, adding that it had been resolved.
The Monday fire reawakened the fading memories of schools that have been burnt across the country since last year.
Last week, fire gutted a dormitory of Kisubi High School on Entebbe Road. The Police blame the many fires on the laxity of school managers.
FIRE on Monday night gutted a Senior Three girls’ dormitory at Crane High School in Kitintale, a Kampala suburb, burning all the students’ property.
The blaze, whose cause is not yet known, started at 7:30pm as the students attended night revision.
“All the dormitories were locked but thick smoke was noticed by students coming from the girls’ dormitory,†said Peter Birungi, the school director.
Using fire extinguishers, sand and water, staff and students fought the fire.
A team of Police fire fighters later joined them and put out the fire before it could spread to two nearby dormitories.
About 20 girls, who fainted, were treated for shock at a nearby health facility. Some sustained cuts in a stampede that ensued.
Stephen Kibaya, the school security guard, said besides fighting to put out the fire, they also had to ensure that the panicking students were kept away to avoid getting burnt as they tried to save their property.
The Police barred the residents from entering the school with the exception of parents who had come to collect their children.
Head teacher Onesmas Munanura and the matron, Prosy, were taken at 9:30pm to the Jinja Road Police Station to record statements.
Earlier on Sunday night, the girls reportedly demonstrated over the caning of their fellow student, who was found with a mobile phone charger and was suspected to possess a mobile phone.
But Burungi described the matter as having been “minorâ€, adding that it had been resolved.
The Monday fire reawakened the fading memories of schools that have been burnt across the country since last year.
Last week, fire gutted a dormitory of Kisubi High School on Entebbe Road. The Police blame the many fires on the laxity of school managers.