Police Investigate Fire at Masaka SS Girls’ Dormitory
Police in Masaka City are looking into the circumstances surrounding a fire that occurred at Masaka Secondary School, which damaged a girls’ dormitory and resulted in the loss of students’ belongings valued at millions of shillings. The incident took place on Tuesday morning, and the cause of the fire is still unknown.
The fire began at around 8 am while students were asleep, and it quickly engulfed the dormitory. The flames consumed everything inside, including mattresses, shoes, suitcases, clothes, and books. A female student, identified as Sumayyiyah, reported that the fire started shortly after a loud noise was heard, and it spread rapidly, fueled by the highly flammable mattresses.
The affected dormitory was a two-story building that housed 47 Senior Five and Six students. Fortunately, the fire did not affect the ground floor of the dormitory.
Hajj Musa Musoke Mpungu, the school’s headteacher, reassured parents that no students were harmed in the fire, except for two girls who fainted during the incident. All the occupants of the dormitory were safe, but their belongings were destroyed. He also praised the prompt response of the fire brigade team, which prevented the fire from spreading to other buildings.
According to Mr. Jamada Wandera, the Southern regional acting police spokesperson, the fire’s cause is believed to be an electrical short circuit. Police are continuing their investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire and gather more information. Wandera urged parents to remain calm, as the situation is now under control.
Founded in 1954, Masaka Secondary School is one of the largest secondary schools in the country, with a student population of 4,000, the majority of whom are day scholars.
