Fire guts Leos Junior Academy in Masaka
Sep 30, 2010
PROPERTY worth millions of shillings was destroyed in a fire that gutted Leos Junior Academy School in Nyendo, Masaka municipality on Sunday night.
By Ali Mambule
PROPERTY worth millions of shillings was destroyed in a fire that gutted Leos Junior Academy School in Nyendo, Masaka municipality on Sunday night.
The fire that started at around 9:00pm, gutted the boys’ dormitories, destroying property including mattresses, suitcases and beds.
A Primary Five pupil, Carol Naluuma, told New Vision that the dormitory was being occupied by pupils in Primary Five, Six and Seven.
“The fire started when we had gone for entertainment. No one was hurt,†she said.
Masaka criminal Investigations department chief Patrick Bamanyindo said the Police were carrying out investigations to establish the cause of the fire.
When the pupils noticed the fire, they immediately alerted their teachers who blocked them from going anywhere near the dormitory, which is located opposite the school premises.
The teachers alerted the Police and together with residents tried to put out the fire.
“The Police arrived immediately, but the fire was too much to be contained,†Musa Gava, a resident, said
The Police later managed to contain the fire, but one part of the dormitory was completely burnt and nothing was saved.
By Monday, 11 people had been held by the Police to help in investigations.
Southern regional Police spokesperson Noah Serunjogi told New Vision that the suspects included teachers, the matron and cooks.
Democratic Party president Norbert Mao and his deputy John Bosco Kawanga, who is also the Masaka MP, visited the school on Monday.
“What has happened is a tragedy. My heart goes out to the teachers, pupils and parents,†Mao said.
He thanked the Police for responding to the call and for stopping the fire from destroying the other part of the dormitory.
“The Government should come up with new regulations for the design of dormitories and implement fire drills in schools,†Mao said.
PROPERTY worth millions of shillings was destroyed in a fire that gutted Leos Junior Academy School in Nyendo, Masaka municipality on Sunday night.
The fire that started at around 9:00pm, gutted the boys’ dormitories, destroying property including mattresses, suitcases and beds.
A Primary Five pupil, Carol Naluuma, told New Vision that the dormitory was being occupied by pupils in Primary Five, Six and Seven.
“The fire started when we had gone for entertainment. No one was hurt,†she said.
Masaka criminal Investigations department chief Patrick Bamanyindo said the Police were carrying out investigations to establish the cause of the fire.
When the pupils noticed the fire, they immediately alerted their teachers who blocked them from going anywhere near the dormitory, which is located opposite the school premises.
The teachers alerted the Police and together with residents tried to put out the fire.
“The Police arrived immediately, but the fire was too much to be contained,†Musa Gava, a resident, said
The Police later managed to contain the fire, but one part of the dormitory was completely burnt and nothing was saved.
By Monday, 11 people had been held by the Police to help in investigations.
Southern regional Police spokesperson Noah Serunjogi told New Vision that the suspects included teachers, the matron and cooks.
Democratic Party president Norbert Mao and his deputy John Bosco Kawanga, who is also the Masaka MP, visited the school on Monday.
“What has happened is a tragedy. My heart goes out to the teachers, pupils and parents,†Mao said.
He thanked the Police for responding to the call and for stopping the fire from destroying the other part of the dormitory.
“The Government should come up with new regulations for the design of dormitories and implement fire drills in schools,†Mao said.