Police probe cause of fire at Kisubi school

Police are investigating the cause of a fire that burnt down a dormitory at St Theresa Kisubi Girls Primary School in Entebbe yesterday morning.

Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire  said the fire, which is said to have started in the Primary Four dormitory was reported to police at 8am.

“Swift response from the Fire Prevention and Rescue Services prevented the fire from spreading further, successfully extinguishing it,” he said in a statement.

Mr Owoyesigyire added: “The exact cause of this fire remains unknown at this time. Our dedicated team of investigators is diligently working to uncover the circumstances leading to this incident. We are committed to establishing the precise cause and ensuring the safety and security of our educational institutions.”

Police said there were no injuries or loss of life from the fire although all the property in the dormitory was burnt.
The school head teacher, Rev Sr Maria Josephine Namubiru, said the fire was a result of lightning that struck the dormitory during a heavy down pour while the girls were in class.

“We found out from the matron that the dormitory had caught fire, all the labourers and staff who were around made an effort to put out the fire using water, sand and the fire extinguishers that are around all the school blocks,” she said.

Leaders speak
Sr Namubiru said police arrived when the fire had been put out.
“We are lucky that all our daughters were in class by the time of the fire, they are all safe, no child or staff was affected. However, all the property was destroyed,” she said. The head teacher said the affected pupils have undergone counselling.

The Wakiso District chairperson, Mr Matia Lwanga Bwanika, said there is need for the parents to cooperate with the school administration to ensure the pupils recover from the shock of the fire incident.

“We are lucky that the fire occurred when the pupils were attending classes, we ask for the parents to be patient with the school. This is one of the schools we trust a lot since it’s headed by religious people, we hope our children will be counseled so as they can perform well in their studies especially those in candidate class,” he said.

According to the Uganda Police 2021 Annual Crime Report, a total of 1,258 fire emergencies were handled in 2021 compared to 1,015 in 2020, marking a 23.9% increase. Fire incidents were mainly attributed to negligence, electrical short circuits, charcoal stoves, and unattended candles/lamps among others.