The fire reportedly spread rapidly through the dormitory, trapping some of the children before residents and police mounted a joint rescue operation.
Two pupils have died and several others were injured after fire gutted a dormitory at Hami Junior School in Maganjo, Nabweru Division, Wakiso District, last night.
The deceased have been identified as Rania Namusoke, a Primary One pupil, and Abdu Shakul Bwete, reported to be a Primary Three pupil.
The fire reportedly spread rapidly through the dormitory, trapping some of the children before residents and police mounted a joint rescue operation.
Several pupils were rescued, while others sustained injuries. The injured children were yet to be officially identified by the time of publication.
Preliminary accounts indicate that wooden planks had been used to partition the dormitory from other sections, a factor suspected to have enabled the fire to spread quickly.
Residents also suspect that frequent power fluctuations could have contributed to the incident, although the cause of the fire had not been officially established.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about the safety of boarding facilities in schools, particularly the use of partitioning materials that could allow fires to spread rapidly.
Police are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fire, including its possible cause and the safety measures in place at the school.
The incident comes as the community mourns the two young pupils whose lives were cut short in the blaze.
