Students at Wamatovu UMEA Secondary School in Nakirebe, Mpigi District, are counting losses after a devastating fire engulfed the boys’ dormitory on November 12, 2024.
The fire, which started around 3 p.m., left no time for anyone to salvage belongings, and by the time the fire brigade arrived, the structure had already collapsed. This dormitory housed boys from Senior 1 to Senior 6, and many of them lost personal items, books, and school uniforms that were in the dorm.
One of the school founders, Faisal Zzaake, expressed shock at the scale of the destruction, noting that the dormitory was primarily powered by solar panels, leaving the cause of the fire unknown for now. Authorities are investigating the incident to understand what triggered the blaze.
The fire at Wamatovu UMEA is part of a concerning trend, with several school fire incidents reported across Uganda in recent months. For instance, in October, St. Mary’s Kitende and Kakungulu Memorial School both experienced dormitory fires that left students injured and caused extensive property damage
The increasing frequency of such fires has raised alarms about safety protocols in schools, prompting calls for enhanced preventive measures.
School administrators and district authorities are now urging for more stringent safety checks in dormitories and increased vigilance to protect students from such disasters.
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