Update; Kasaana Junior School fire death toll now at Four

Four pupils of Kasaana Junior School in, Nyendo-Mukungwe division, Masaka City have died in a fire that burnt down a dormitory.  The incident that happened at 4:00 am also left sevral other pupils injured.

According to school authorities, the dormitory accommodated 15 children in Top and Primary One classes.

The deceased have been identified as Aloysius Ahebwa and Malik Katende who died in the fire, while Hillary Walugembe and Arnold Tumwesige succumbed to the injuries at Kiruddu Hospital in Kampala, where they had been referred.

Those critically injured include Christine Adong, a school Matron, Austin Kisembo, Jordan Ssendagire, Arnold Tumwesige, Sharid Mwanje among others.

Jamada Wandera the acting Greater Masaka Police spokesperson confirmed the incident, attributing it to a short-circuit.  He said that although the police Fire and Rescue team rushed at the scene to save the situation, the two pupils could not be rescued.

According to Wandera, the injured pupils were rushed to various hospitals.

Shortly after the outbreak, dozens of parents rushed to the school and insisted to take their children back home.  However, Steven Kakeeto the Masaka City Education Officer maintained that the school management cannot afford to release the learners now.

He explained that the city education department and security have taken over the situation, and are working with the school management to verify the causalities and will inform the parents.

The latest incident brings the number of school fire cases reported in Masaka City to two in a period of one month.

Early this month Masaka Senior Secondary School in Masaka city, also suffered a fire outbreak that burnt down the school girls’ dormitory and destroyed property worth an estimated value.

Via URN