Quarry blast leaves 13 students in shock, hospitalised

At least 13 female students were admitted to different health facilities following an explosion at a stone quarry near their school.

The 13 students are all candidates in senior four and six at Lumuza High School, located at Katende, in Mpigi district.

The incident took place at around 2:30 pm on Friday, after the village leaders had announced on the local radio station warning the residents near the quarry to move away at least four km.

The stone quarry being operated by Kaki developers limited is located a few meters away from the school.

According to the school director of studies, Muzafaru Wamala, they received a warning from the local village leaders that there was going to be a blast in the quarry and they relocated the students a few kilometers away from the place but they were surprised to see that after the first blast, the students got a shock.

13 of them became unconscious, their conditions worsened after the second blast from the quarry and they had to rush them to Lubaga hospital. Others were taken to St Monica health center and Mpigi health center IV in critical condition.

"Immediately the blast went off, some female students lost their conscious and started falling down one by one, we had to rush them to nearby health centers first but three students were referred to Lubaga hospital in critical condition," Wamala said.

He added that school structures including the classroom blocks and school dormitories developed cracks.

Wamala appealed to the authorities to come to their rescue as this is likely to affect the performance of students who are waiting to seat their final exams.

"If the situation doesn't change and it keeps like this, our students are likely to be affected greatly, the school as well is likely to suffer losses," Wamala said.

Some of the affected students were identified as Priscilla Namutebi, S4, Edith Nambi, S6, Hasifah Nangoobi, S6, Joan Nansamba, S4, and Swabrah Nabulya, S4, among others.

Edith Nambi, a senior four student who was receiving treatment at St Monica health center, said she does not recall anything as she woke up only to find herself in the hospital.

Peter Musoke, the village chairperson said they had warned residents neighbouring the quarry to relocate for a few hours to enable the mining of the hardcore stones. He advised the responsible persons to compensate the school for the damaged property.