The death toll from the fire that gutted a dormitory of Kasaana Junior School in Nyendo-Mukungwe Division, Masaka City, has reached four. The incident that happened at 4:00 a.m. also left 11 pupils injured.
According to the school authorities, the dormitory accommodated 15 children of Top and Primary One classes.
The latest victims have been identified as Hillary Walugembe and Arnold Tumwesige, who succumbed to the injuries they sustained during the devastating fire. Two pupils including Aloysius Ahebwa and Malik Katende were reported to have died on spot.
Greater Masaka Regional Police Spokesperson Jamada Wandera said that the two pupils died at Kirubu Hospital in Kampala, where they had been referred.
According to the school records, some of the injured pupils include Shahib Mwanje, Ssendagire Jordan, Poel Ssenoga, Grant Matovu, Muganga Martin, Alpha Wasswa, Austine Kisomose, and Elijah Ssemambo, all of whom are pupils in the pre-primary section of the school. The school matron, Christine Adong is among the critically injured and admitted getting treatment.
Preliminary findings from the police suggest that an electrical short circuit is the likely cause of the fire.
At the time of filing this story, the school was still closed to the public, including parents who had rushed there with the intention of collecting their children.