The recent fires at two Kasese District schools have highlighted serious shortcomings in the police fire brigade’s response and the schools’ compliance with safety protocols.
On February 29, a fire devastated a boys’ dormitory at Margherita Demonstration Primary School, destroying students’ possessions. Soon after, another fire, reportedly caused by an electrical fault, severely damaged Bukangara Childcare Nursery and Primary School. In both cases, the schools reported inadequate assistance from the police when called to extinguish the fires.
The director of Bukangara Childcare Nursery and Primary School, Mr. Alfred Kule, stated that the police arrived without firefighting gear. He further mentioned that the police fire tanker came over an hour later, by which time locals and school staff had tried to douse the flames with soil.
Mr. Nixon Marahi, head teacher at Margherita Demonstration Primary, revealed that the fire destroyed 13 mattresses, bed sheets, beds, 19 suitcases, and roofs. He believed the fire could have been controlled if the police had responded faster.
At a parent meeting following the incident, a school director expressed concerns about the police’s slow response and questioned the government’s dedication to fire safety.
However, SP Nelson Tumushime, the regional police spokesperson, denied any police inadequacy, suggesting that the schools were deflecting blame. He acknowledged resource limitations, noting that the entire region has only two firefighting units for four police divisions.
He also pointed out that many schools fail to follow the Ministry of Education and Sports’ safety guidelines, lacking essentials like fire extinguishers and emergency exits. The Kasese Municipal education officer warned that non-compliant schools would soon face penalties.
