Kamuli Girls Primary School in Eastern Uganda has been temporarily closed due to a fire that occurred on a Friday night, resulting in the destruction of the P7 dormitory and all the belongings of the pupils. Over 100 pupils lived in the dormitory, but fortunately, all of them escaped without any injuries. They credit their safe escape to having multiple exits and space between their beds.
Joseph Musoke, the Kamuli Municipality Education Officer, mentioned that a meeting involving teachers, parents, and the police decided to close the school temporarily. The purpose of this closure is to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fire. During this time, students will receive support from their families to cope with the trauma caused by the fire. The school will only reopen once they have implemented all necessary safety measures to prevent future accidents.
Musoke also encouraged parents to provide study materials for their children so they can continue preparing for their primary leaving examinations. The Busoga North Police spokesperson, Michael Kasadha, reported that investigations are ongoing, and a detailed report about the fire’s cause will be released to the public once the inquiries are completed. Police personnel have been deployed to secure the scene to collect evidence without contamination.
One of the pupils, speaking anonymously, described how the fire was first noticed on the rooftop before spreading to other parts of the dormitory. They alerted their warden, who rang the emergency bell, allowing all the girls to evacuate the dormitory before it was entirely engulfed in flames. An anonymous teacher revealed that the fire initially produced smoke and minor flames, which they tried to control internally. However, when significant flames emerged from the rooftop, they decided to call the fire brigade.
