Police have confirmed the death of more five pupils in the fire that gutted Kasana Junior School lower-class boys’ dormitory on Monday morning, October 30, 2023, at around 4 am in Masaka city, bringing the number to seven pupils.
Jamada Wandera, the Southern Regional Deputy Police Commander while addressing reporters on Tuesday morning, October 31, 2023, identified the deceased as Arnold Tumwesigye and Martin Muganga in Primary One, while Hillary Walugembe, Jordan Ssendagire and Austine Kisomosi were in Top class.
Police said that, the fire that started at around 4 am on October 30, 2023, gutted a boys’ dormitory, where the pupils were sleeping.
The authorities identified the two deceased who died on spot as Aloysius Ahabwe and Malik Katende, all from Top class.
According to Wandera, the affected dormitory accommodated about 15 children of Top and P1 classes, and those who have been confirmed dead were among those reported severely injured and taken to Mulago Referral Hospital in Masaka for treatment yesterday.
“As we reported yesterday about the incident of fire at Kasana Junior School found in Nyendo-Mukungwe Division, early morning, around two pupils of top class that was Ahabwe Aloysius and Malik Katende died instantly. Unfortunately, by this morning, we have received information that 5 more have passed on. We are working around the clock, and instituted investigations into the cause of this fire,” Wandera noted.
The Police have asked school directors to always adhere to the rules and regulations set by the Ministry of Education and Sports.
“I would like to reiterate that, the school administrators, and all directors of schools, should always ensure that they comply with the Ministry of Education guidelines. In as far as construction of this school, comply with the guidelines by ensuring that there are no back lags that are erected in the windows, at the doors, and also provide beds that are double-decker, not triple-decker,” he said.
According to the police report released in October 2022, 17 schools out of 40 that got burnt countrywide between January 5, 2022 and June 27, 2022 were deliberate while the four were accidental, and four others were out of negligence by the school authorities.
