Two pupils have died and three others have been injured after a fire broke out in a boys’ dormitory at Hami Junior School in Maganjo B Zone, Nansana Municipality, Wakiso District.
The fire started at about 10:30pm on Monday, triggering an emergency response involving teachers, residents and police officers who rushed to evacuate the children.
The deceased were identified by police as Rania Namusoke, eight, a Primary One pupil, and Abdulshakur Bwete, 10, who was in Primary Three. Their bodies were taken to Mulago City Mortuary for postmortem examinations.
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The injured pupils were identified as Yusuf Miyingo Alcham, 13, a Primary Seven pupil; Hamidu Muyimba, nine, of Primary Three; and Hasadu Kazibwe, seven, of Primary One. They were taken to Bethel Medical Centre for treatment.
Maganjo B Cell chairperson John Kiwanuka said he received information about the fire at around 11pm and joined the rescue operation.
“Residents joined teachers and police officers in evacuating the children from the dormitories, but two pupils were later discovered missing,” Kiwanuka said. “On searching the dormitories, their bodies were found in the beds where they died.”
He said the fire had been fully extinguished by about 3am on Tuesday.
Nansana Deputy Resident District Commissioner Charles Lwanga confirmed the deaths and urged the public to allow investigators to establish what happened.
“I have been informed that one of the deceased pupil was around nine years old. Investigations are still going on. We shall inform you once the police report is out,” Lwanga said.
He also called on the public to handle potential fire hazards, including charcoal stoves and gas cylinders, carefully to prevent similar incidents.
Kawempe Division Community Liaison Officer ASP Godfrey Asiimwe Muteera said authorities would engage relevant stakeholders on how to manage the aftermath while ensuring learning continues.
“The school operation has to resume because children have to study. We shall see how to do it,” Muteera said.
By Tuesday morning, police had cordoned off the school as scene-of-crime officers examined the site. Preliminary findings indicated that the dormitory had wooden partitions and was fitted with double- and triple-decker beds.
Although the cause of the fire had not been officially established, residents and local leaders raised concerns about possible electrical faults amid frequent power fluctuations in the area.
Nansana Municipality MP Zambaali Bulasio Mukasa said local security officials had informed him that electricity could have triggered the blaze. He expressed concern about repeated power interruptions across the constituency and said he intended to raise the issue in Parliament.
“The Nansana Division Police Commander has confirmed to me that this fire was caused by electricity. Power in this area is always on and off, which creates high chances of creating short circuits,” Mukasa said.
Kiwanuka said electricity was on when the fire broke out and also highlighted concerns about instability in the local power supply. He urged parents who had lost their children to remain strong as investigations continued.
Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesperson ASP Luke Owoyesigyire confirmed that police were investigating the incident and would release further details once the report was complete.
The school fire occurred on the same night another blaze broke out at Ivory Hotel in Nansana West 1B, West Ward.
Police said the hotel fire started at about 8:15pm, affecting the rooftop structure that housed staff quarters and storerooms. Initial reports indicated that sparks had been seen at a nearby transformer during power fluctuations shortly before the flames spread.
Police and the Fire and Rescue team from Fire Headquarters responded and contained the blaze before it spread further. No casualties were reported, although property whose value had not been established was destroyed.
The incidents have renewed concerns about fire safety in schools, hotels and other buildings, particularly amid reports of electricity supply fluctuations.
ASP Owoyesigyire urged schools, businesses and property owners to have electrical wiring and installations regularly inspected by certified technicians and warned against overloading sockets and extension cables.
He also called on institutions accommodating children and large numbers of people to provide accessible fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and clearly marked emergency exits, as well as conduct regular evacuation drills.
Investigations into the cause of the school fire and the circumstances surrounding the pupils’ deaths are ongoing.
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