The Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) has called on the government to increase safety measures in schools and markets, following the increased cases of fire outbreaks.

In a statement dated November 1, 2023, Sharon Arach Oyat, the UPC Spokesperson, said that fires have consistently broken out in Uganda, primarily in marketplaces and education institutions.

“The latest fire incident at St. Theresa Kisubi Girls Primary School along Entebbe Road and that of Kasana Junior School in Nyendo Masaka, among others, are regrettable and deeply saddening, as some pupils (at Kasana) lost their lives while others are in critical conditions, as well as damage to property,” Arach said.

She said that as much as numerous discussions and articles have been made regarding the potential causes, with police pledging to provide a thorough report outlining the cause of fire in each individual case, nothing much has been done.

Arach added that the government should do a routine physical inspection of all schools across the country to check on electrical installations, wiring, and the state of the buildings.

She emphasized the government’s need to put in place an effective mechanism to ensure that schools meet the required basic standards or upgrade the facilities. In addition, Arach urged them to perform surgical procedures and conduct in-depth research to identify the underlying reasons for these fire outbreaks.

According to Arach, every school should hire risk managers and licensed electricians to curb minor vices before they cause major harm.

UPC urged the government and school authorities to compensate the families of the victims and assist all the affected persons.

Prior to this statement, markets such as Owino, Usafi, Kigungu in Entebbe, Shauriyako, and Elegu in Amuru district, to mention but a few, and numerous schools, have been victims of fire outbreaks that have caused loss of property and a few cases of death.