The string of recent conflagrations at two educational institutions in Kasese District has cast a spotlight on glaring gaps in emergency response by the police fire brigade and the schools’ compliance with established safety norms.
On the leap day of February, flames consumed a boys’ dormitory at Margherita Demonstration Primary School, obliterating the personal effects of the pupils. This incident was closely followed by another blaze at Bukangara Childcare Nursery and Primary School, attributed to an electrical malfunction, which wreaked havoc on the school’s property. Both episodes underscored a troubling pattern of delayed and insufficient police response when called upon for fire emergencies.
Mr. Alfred Kule, the director of Bukangara Childcare, recounted the disheartening scene when police arrived unprepared to combat the inferno. He lamented that the police fire tanker’s arrival, more than an hour tardy, was a futile gesture after makeshift efforts involving soil had been employed to quell the flames.
Mr. Nixon Marahi, the principal of Margherita Demonstration Primary, catalogued the losses inflicted by the fire, including essential student belongings and structural damage. He contended that the disaster’s impact could have been mitigated had the police fire brigade acted with alacrity.
In the aftermath, a school director aired grievances over the sluggish police reaction at a parental assembly, casting doubts on the government’s resolve in safeguarding against such calamities.
Contrastingly, SP Nelson Tumushime, the police spokesperson for the region, refuted allegations of police inefficacy, insinuating that the schools were attempting to deflect responsibility. While conceding to resource constraints, he affirmed the police’s proficiency in fire management, albeit hampered by the scarcity of firefighting apparatuses.
SP Tumushime also reproached the school administrations for their laxity in adhering to the Ministry of Education and Sports’ safety directives, pinpointing the absence of fundamental safety measures. Echoing this sentiment, Mr. Emmy Kayiiri, the municipal education officer, admonished the schools for their disregard of the ministry’s mandates, vowing to impose sanctions on those flouting regulations.
This narrative not only underscores the need for robust emergency preparedness but also serves as a clarion call for educational institutions to prioritize the safety of their charges above all.
