MAKERERE UNIVERSITY: The Ugandan Cabinet has directed to revamp all electrical installations in old buildings as a move to mitigate possible fire outbreak at Makerere University.
During Monday’s Cabinet sitting, it was decided that a “firefighting truck should be permanently stationed at Makerere University.”
“The Fire Brigade should beef up its capacity to effectively and efficiently respond to fires,” the Cabinet resolved in a meeting held this past Monday.
In September of last year 2020, Makerere University was sent ablaze where fire ravaged the iconic structures destroying properties worth millions and crucial documents of the Institution.
According the investigation report into the Makerere incident, Police Fire Brigade arrived at the scene at 1:10 am initially with two fire engines which did not have the capacity to jet water to the roof of the building.
After about 30 minutes, more fire engines with better capacity arrived, but by this time the fire had spread through a big part of the roof.
Although the Fire Brigade managed to subdue the fire at around 4:00 am., the entire roof of the building had collapsed and the entire top floor of the building and the entire Finance Department had been burnt.
Vice Chancellor Barnabus Nawangwe said the fire engines “experienced a challenge with lack of a fire hydrant within and in the vicinity of the University and had to fetch water from the hydrants” from the Fire Brigade Headquarters.
Cabinet also resolved that the annual maintenance budget of the Estates and Works Department should be increased to enable the Department carry out preventive maintenance on buildings in the University
Do you have a story or an opinion to share? Email us on: [email protected] Or join the Daily Express WhatsApp channel for all the latest news and trends or join the Telegram Channel for the latest updates.
