By URN
Education and security authorities in Hoima city have closed Hoima town Mosque Nursery and Primary school following a fire that gutted the school dormitory, destroying properties worth millions of shillings.
Fire gutted the school on Tuesday, causing extensive property damage worth millions of shillings.
The fire broke out at around 11 a.m. while pupils were attending lessons, leaving dozens of learners in tears after losing their personal belongings. Items such as books, mattresses, and clothes were destroyed.
Teachers and learners at the school noted that they first heard a loud blast from the dormitory, followed by large flames. They quickly alerted the police, fire and rescue team, which responded promptly to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading further.
Barnabas Tugume, the Assistant Resident City Commissioner (RCC) for Hoima East Division, says that security and Education authorities in the city have resolved that the school should first be closed to allow thorough investigations into the cause of the fire outbreak.
He says the school will only be allowed to reopen after police have released a detailed report on the cause of the fire outbreak. Tugume says police will remain deployed at the school until they are done with the investigations.
Carolyne Nyamahunge, the Inspector of Schools for Hoima City, said they are awaiting a detailed report from the police fire brigade on the cause of the fire.
She says parents with children at the school have been notified to immediately pick up their children until security and education authorities finalise investigations to establish the exact cause of the fire outbreak.
This is the third time the school dormitory has been gutted by fire.
In March 2016, a fire outbreak at Hoima Town Mosque Primary school claimed the life of one of the pupils. The fire then gutted the Boys Dormitory at around 8 pm, leading to the death of Sharif Nuwagaba, 8, who was in P3.
In 2023, a fire destroyed the boys’ dormitory, causing similar damage to property worth millions. That fire started around 5 p.m. while pupils were still on the premises.
The previous blaze also affected several shops along Old Tooro Road, sharing premises with the school dormitory.
Among the shops damaged were Kajez Boutique, Kaba Shoe Centre, Kalidez Master Fashions, and Julie’s Shoe Centre.
