PHOTO: Dormitory on OLUPOT ‘B’ Block which was burnt
NEWS EDITOR MEDIA
POLICE has confirmed death of a pupil after fire gutted a fourth school last night at about 12:15 am, just in a period of less than two months.
This tragedy happened at a school in Kawaala, Rubaga division just a few meters from Kawaala Police Station days after Rubaga South legislator Hon. Aloysius Mukasa asked Parliament during the 3rd sitting of the 3rd meeting of the 1st session of the 11th Parliament to task the Minister of Internal Affairs to explain how well Police fire brigade is prepared to deal with fire outbreaks in the country, but in vain!
During a plenary presided over by The Rt. Hon. Deputy Speaker Anita Annet Among, MP Mukasa said this was a matter of National Importance and “As leaders, we just can’t fold our hands and look on as our children continue being killed by such fires and property worth billions lost.” It is sad, last night another school was been burnt and innocent life lost!
A statement released by KMP Deputy Spoksperson Luke Owoyesigire today afternoon, the territorial Police at Old Kampala have this morning registered a serious incident of a fire outbreak that left one child dead.
“The incident happened today 22.02.2022 at about 12:15am at Good Times infant Primary School Kawaala, in Rubaga Division Kampala District.” Reads police statement.
It is alleged that pupils were in the dormitory (OLUPOT ” B” BLOCK) which is occupied by P.4, P.5, P.6, and P.7 when the fire broke out in their room.
Owoyesigire said, “The children escaped through the front and back doors. Unfortunately, Amanya Mathew, an 11-year-old primary six pupil was left inside as he was fast asleep. He was burnt beyond recognition.”
We have been told, the Police Fire Prevention and rescue services responded and put down the fire but it wasn’t in time. “The deceased’s remains have been conveyed to city mortuary Mulago.
Investigations to ascertain the cause of the fire have commenced. More details will be communicated as soon as they come in.” Says ASP Luke Owoyesigyire.
WHAT DID MP MUKASA SAY?
In a parliamentary sitting presided over by Rt. Hon. Anita Annet Among, MP Mukasa told Parliament that before Parliament went into recess last year in December, he raised a matter relating to the preparedness of Police Fire Brigade in responding to emergencies such as fire outbreaks in Uganda. He was seeking an elaborate response front the Hon. Minister of Internal Affairs on the matter.
“Rt. Hon. Speaker, I was referring to rampant fire outbreaks in which many lives have been lost and property worth billions destroyed.” Said Hon. Mukasa.
Speaking with an American accent amidst ululation from the excited Hon. Members, Hon. Mukasa told Parliament that the rate at which fire is gutting down businesses is alarming and yet the poorly planned mushrooming storeyed buildings which are being erected across the country, the many housing structures which do not allow access of fire emergency by police fire brigade especially in slum areas and the slow response by police fire Brigade are rendering the problem unmanageable.
“Since December when I raised this very matter Rt. Hon. Speaker and Hon. Members, the country has witnessed an escalation of serious fire incidences especially in school domitories where innocent young pupils perished in fires and uncountable property destroyed!” Said Rubaga South legislator.
Hon. Mukasa reffered to five pupils who died in a fire on 15th January 2022 which gutted New Crest Junior at Kibedi Day and Boarding Primary School in Kawempe Divion,Kampala District and another one at St. John’s Primary School in Kyotera district.
About ten days later, where fire gutted another dormitory.
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