Kamuli, Uganda: A tragic fire outbreak at Balawoli Primary School in Balawoli Town Council, Kamuli District has claimed the life of a 12-year-old pupil and left several properties reduced to ashes.
The incident occurred at around 11:00 pm on Sunday night, destroying the boys’ dormitory and burning mattresses along with pupils’ personal belongings.
The deceased has been identified as Famba Bernard, a Primary Five pupil and son of the school matron. According to the regional police spokesperson, ASP Michael Kasadha, preliminary assessments indicate that a short circuit is suspected to have triggered the fire.
“At the time of the fire outbreak, the deceased was asleep in the dormitory and got trapped inside as the fire intensified,” said Kasadha. He added that two of the victim’s siblings managed to escape and rushed to alert the matron, who was at the girls’ wing, about 70 metres from the affected dormitory.
A team of police officers led by the District Police Commander responded to the scene and managed to save some property.
Meanwhile, the boy’s body was retrieved and transported to Kamuli General Hospital mortuary for postmortem examination, as investigations into the incident continue to establish the exact cause of the fire.
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