Tragic Dorm Fire at Hami Junior School Claims Two Young Lives

Tragedy struck Hami Junior School in Wakiso district on Tuesday night when a fire ripped through a boys’ dormitory, claiming the lives of two young students. The fire, which reportedly began around 10:30 PM, also left three other pupils with injuries.

The deceased have been identified by police as Lamia Namusoke, an 8-year-old Primary One pupil, and Abdu Shakul Bwete, a 10-year-old from Primary Three. The injured students, Yusuf Miyingo Alcham (13), Hamidu Muyimba (9), and Hasadu Kazibwe (7), received initial treatment at Bethel Medical Centre.

Preliminary investigations suggest the dormitory, partitioned with wood and equipped with bunk beds, may have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. This incident follows a series of recent fires in educational institutions across the region, including blazes at Nakasero Secondary School and Baraka Education Centre, which fortunately did not result in fatalities.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the Hami Junior School fire. The Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire, has not ruled out any possibilities. Meanwhile, fire officials are emphasizing the critical need for robust fire prevention strategies in schools and other public places, citing electrical faults as a common cause of fires in the area. Assistant Superintendent of Police Myers Byonanebye stressed the importance of regular electrical inspections and readily available fire safety equipment.

This latest incident tragically adds to a history of fatal school fires in the Kampala metropolitan area, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced safety protocols to protect students.

Read more on The Observer (Uganda): https://observer.ug/news/two-pupils-killed-in-hami-junior-school-dormitory-fire