Fire guts Mbarara school dormitory

Mbarara, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Fire has gutted a  Shuhadal Islamic Secondary School dormitory in Mbarara District, destroying property.  The fire also injured a student, Suleiman Beigana who is currently admitted at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital.

The dormitory houses 202 students of Senior 2 and 3.  Isaq Mugerwa Kafeero the headteacher, says the fire started at 4:30 am when students were preparing for morning prayers. He explains that students lost books, mattresses, clothes, and other personal belongings.

Samson Kasasira, the Rwizi Region Police Spokesperson says that the Police Fire and Rescue Services with assistance from the Nyamitanga Diocese Fire Brigade put out the fire, but it had already destroyed property.

Kasasira says the cause of the fire has not been established, but investigations into the incident are ongoing.

According to the National Building Review Board, 120 private and public schools were inspected last year, but none had a fire hydrant on site for fire emergencies; however, about 10% had a hydrant in the vicinity while 30% installed fire detection and alarm systems although they did not have adequate coverage.

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