Mukono university students die in fire
TWO students of Uganda Christian University, Mukono died yesterday following fire that gutted their room in a hostel in Mukono town.
By Darious Magara
and Henry Nsubuga
TWO students of Uganda Christian University, Mukono died yesterday following fire that gutted their room in a hostel in Mukono town.
The charred bodies of Alex Kisakye and Harriet Atugonza were recovered from a wooden single-bed in the room.
By the time of the fire, the room’s metallic door had been locked with a padlock from inside.
The small hostel is situated at Buguju, a few kilometres from the university campus. The Police transferred the bodies of the deceased to Mulago Hospital.
The incident shocked the university students and residents who said two had been staying together for sometime. The mysterious fire broke out shortly the two had entered their room in the afternoon, according to an eyewitness.
Kisakye and Atugonza have been third-year students pursuing Bachelor of Business Administration courses at UCU. Atugonza reportedly was from Jinja while Kisakye has been a resident of Mukono.
Residents said that Kisake operated a Boda Boda to raise tuition for his course. He was also working as the hostel’s care taker.
“We were attracted to the scene by a loud bang. On reaching there, we found the room on fire with the two inside,†an eyewitness said.
She said they could not immediately access the house to rescue the two students as the door was locked and the fire was still raging.
She explained that from outside, they saw Atugonza trying to escape from the room but in vain.
“She died as she struggled to escape from the fire in vain†the eyewitness who declined to identify herself added.
She said that earlier in the day they had seen the girl fetching water from a nearby tap and she was shocked to find the same person had been burnt to death inside the room.
The District Police chief, Aliphonsi Musoni said they are investigating to establish whether it was accidental fire or an act of suicide.
“We do not know whether the victims were cooking food from inside the room. We are wondering why they locked themselves inside with a padlock during day time,†Musoni added.
Residents identified the owner of the hostel as one Muhingo. The fire only affected one room. Police sealed off the scene pending further investigations.
The UCU director of student’s Affairs Rev. Milton Tweheyo regretted the death saying it was unfortunate. He said the university was also investigating the matter.
and Henry Nsubuga
TWO students of Uganda Christian University, Mukono died yesterday following fire that gutted their room in a hostel in Mukono town.
The charred bodies of Alex Kisakye and Harriet Atugonza were recovered from a wooden single-bed in the room.
By the time of the fire, the room’s metallic door had been locked with a padlock from inside.
The small hostel is situated at Buguju, a few kilometres from the university campus. The Police transferred the bodies of the deceased to Mulago Hospital.
The incident shocked the university students and residents who said two had been staying together for sometime. The mysterious fire broke out shortly the two had entered their room in the afternoon, according to an eyewitness.
Kisakye and Atugonza have been third-year students pursuing Bachelor of Business Administration courses at UCU. Atugonza reportedly was from Jinja while Kisakye has been a resident of Mukono.
Residents said that Kisake operated a Boda Boda to raise tuition for his course. He was also working as the hostel’s care taker.
“We were attracted to the scene by a loud bang. On reaching there, we found the room on fire with the two inside,†an eyewitness said.
She said they could not immediately access the house to rescue the two students as the door was locked and the fire was still raging.
She explained that from outside, they saw Atugonza trying to escape from the room but in vain.
“She died as she struggled to escape from the fire in vain†the eyewitness who declined to identify herself added.
She said that earlier in the day they had seen the girl fetching water from a nearby tap and she was shocked to find the same person had been burnt to death inside the room.
The District Police chief, Aliphonsi Musoni said they are investigating to establish whether it was accidental fire or an act of suicide.
“We do not know whether the victims were cooking food from inside the room. We are wondering why they locked themselves inside with a padlock during day time,†Musoni added.
Residents identified the owner of the hostel as one Muhingo. The fire only affected one room. Police sealed off the scene pending further investigations.
The UCU director of student’s Affairs Rev. Milton Tweheyo regretted the death saying it was unfortunate. He said the university was also investigating the matter.