Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A fire, reportedly ignited by lightning, destroyed a dormitory at St Theresa – Kisubi Girls Primary School Wednesday morning, resulting in the destruction of property valued at millions of shillings. However, there were no casualties or injuries, according to the school administrators and the police.
The incident occurred around 7:30 a.m. during a morning drizzle when the pupils were already outside, preparing for their lessons. In response to the emergency, the pupils were swiftly evacuated from the main campus to the older buildings in the parking lot to ensure their safety.
The Deputy Headmaster Gerald Kizito noted that all pupils and staff were safe, and the Headmistress, Sister Maria Josephine Namubiru, would provide an official statement later.
Parents were not allowed to enter the premises when a reporter visited the school around 9:00 a.m. The extent of the damage and the financial loss incurred was hard to determine as the affected dormitory, which housed learners from lower classes up to primary four, was not visible from the school gate. A police patrol vehicle and a few officers were observed near the affected building, as they were still working with school administrators.
Deputy Headmaster Gerald Kizito and a few teachers were stationed at the parking gate, offering brief and guarded explanations to concerned parents. Kizito stated, “The headmistress will make an official comment, but what you should know is that all our learners, teachers, and staff are safe.”
Sister Maria Josephine Namubiru was not reachable at the time, as she was still engaged with the police. Later, she addressed a small group of journalists who were present at the school.
The Kampala Metropolitan Spokesperson Patrick Onyango, confirmed the incident and reassured parents that there were no injuries or loss of life. He mentioned that officers were still on the scene investigating the cause of the fire.
Regarding parents’ complaints, the officer explained that open access was restricted for various reasons, including the safety of the children, the security of other property, and preventing interference with the scene during ongoing investigations.
He also cited concerns about potential disputes among parents that could be exploited by ill-intentioned individuals to harm children who are not their own.
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