Police in Kamuli District have launched an investigation into a tragic fire that broke out at Balawoli Primary School, claiming the life of a 12-year-old pupil and destroying the boys’ dormitory along with several belongings.
The incident occurred on Sunday night, May 25, at around 11:00 PM in Balawoli Town Council. According to a statement issued by ASP Micheal Kasadha, the Regional Police Spokesperson for Busoga North, the fire reduced the entire dormitory to ashes.
The deceased has been identified as Famba Bernard, a Primary Five pupil and son to the school matron. He was reportedly asleep at the time of the fire. His two siblings, also in the same dormitory, managed to escape and alerted the matron, who was at the girls’ wing, about 70 metres away. Unfortunately, by the time help arrived, Bernard had been trapped inside the blazing structure.
Preliminary findings point to a possible electrical short circuit as the likely cause of the fire. Several mattresses, books, and other scholastic materials were lost in the blaze.
Officers led by the District Police Commander (DPC) quickly responded to the scene and managed to recover some property. The boy’s body was later retrieved and taken to Kamuli General Hospital Mortuary for a postmortem examination.
Police say investigations are ongoing to establish the exact cause of the fire and prevent similar tragedies in the future.
According to the Uganda Police Force’s 2024 Annual Crime Report, there was a notable increase in fire incidents across the country, including a rise in school-related fires. Fire incidents rose by 13.8%, from 1,104 cases in 2023 to 1,280 in 2024.
There was a 9% increase in school fires, with cases rising from 50 in 2023 to 55 in 2024. The fires were mostly attributed to electrical short circuits: 270 cases, unattended electrical appliances: 111 cases, Negligence and misuse of wax candles: 217 cases, Arson: 101 cases
Other causes included sparks from various activities, poor cooking habits, and incidents related to electrical welding and gas cutting.
Out of the 1,280 reported fire incidents, 1,150 were successfully handled, indicating a 90% success rate in managing fire outbreaks.