Tragedy struck Kamuli Girls Boarding Primary School in Kamuli District, as a suspected arsonist set fire to the P7 dormitory, causing extensive damage and distress.
On Saturday morning, the personal belongings of the candidates, including beddings, uniforms, and metallic boxes, had turned to ashes. Eyewitnesses reported that the fire began shortly after midnight while most candidates were engaged in late-night studying, with some asleep.
A candidate on the top bunk noticed the smoke and heat emanating from an empty bottom bunk, prompting her to alert the matron. The candidate’s shouts drew the attention of others, and the fire alarm quickly spread throughout the compound, thanks to the quick response of ASP Michael Kasadha, the Busoga North Regional Police spokesperson.
Despite the efforts of students and teachers in a frantic rescue attempt, they were unable to save most of the property before the Police Fire Brigade arrived to control the flames. The fire brigade managed to prevent the roof from collapsing, but textbooks, beddings, uniforms, metallic boxes, and beds were lost in the blaze.
Fortunately, the candidates were evacuated through the windows, preventing any loss of life, although minor injuries occurred during the ensuing chaos.
George William Mutyabule, the Speaker of Busoga Lukiiko and a school board member, expressed his sadness at the unprecedented attack, noting that it was the first of its kind since the school’s establishment in the mid-1960s. Arson incidents have been more common in the central and western regions.
Kamuli Girls Boarding Primary School, located in Bukwenge Zone, Northern Division, Kamuli Municipality, is a Church of Uganda-founded, government-aided school with an enrollment of nearly 900 pupils from various regions. Some of its alumni hold positions in government entities, the judiciary, construction, accounting firms, and airports, both in Uganda and abroad.
According to ASP Michael Kasadha, initial findings suggest that arson is the likely cause of the fire, as there was no electrical wire underneath the bunk where the fire originated. There have been reports of internal conflicts within the school’s administration, governing body, and the Anglican Church.
Joy Kasana Muwanika, the headmistress, has faced controversy since taking office in 2017, marking a departure from the school’s history of male headteachers. Her tenure has seen significant changes to the school, including new infrastructure, increased enrollment, and improved academic performance.
