KAMPALA, Uganda
Police in Uganda are investigating a fire outbreak that killed 11 people at Salama School for the Blind in Luga Village, Ntanzi Parish, Mukono District, in the wee hours of Tuesday.
According to a statement
released by ASP, Luke Owoyesigyire, the Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy
spokesperson, the cause of the fire is yet to be established.
Six other people said to be in
critical condition were rushed to Herona Hospital in Kisoga Town, Mukono
District and later transferred to Mulago National Referral Hospital,
according to the District Health Officer, Dr Henry Mulindwa.
The deceased, all visually
impaired children, have been identified as Shamira Kalema, Patricia Mudondo,
Gladys Namuga, Rebecca Josephine Namulondo, Josephine Joseline
Namuwonge, Peace Nalumisa, Agnes Nantume, Pretty Prwoth,
Veronica Nasali, Ket Nangutu and Patricia Nakaiyima.
The school proprietor, Mr
Francis Kinubi, believes it was an arson attack.
"I think a heartless
person set fire on the dormitory with an intension of blocking the princess'
visit because there is no electricity at the side where the fire started,"
he said.
Mukono LCV chairperson, Rev
Peter Bakaluba Mukasa, said the school has been involved in land conflicts as
he received complaints in his office.
Major General James Birungi
the commander of Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) said they are going
to investigate the matter.
School fires have become a common occurrence countrywide, however, a lasting solution seems to have eluded the authorities and concerned stakeholders.
The Ministry of Education in
March, attributed the fire outbreaks in schools to a lack of occupational
permits, especially among private schools, across the country.
The ministry said schools can
acquire the permits from the local government, adding that the institutions
will be forced to publicly display their occupational permits to parents and
visitors.
In 2008, the ministry in
conjunction with the police issued a circular with a list of guidelines on how
schools could address school fires and ensure the safety and security of
learners. The guidelines included having emergency exits, security committees,
firefighting equipment, and sickbays.
However, this seems to not
have helped as many fire incidents have happened in various schools since then,
claiming dozens of lives.
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