Ab-Titchaz
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- Jan 30, 2008
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Another dorm burnt
Richard Otim
Soroti
FIRE gutted a girls dormitory at Soroti Core Primary Teachers College on Saturday evening, destroying property worth millions of shillings.
There were no deaths, but three students were rushed to Soroti Hospital for after they suffered the after-effect of smoke. Students attached to the hall lost vital documents, books and property.
A somber mood engulfed the institute on Sunday as district and security officials visited the school to establish the cause of the fire.
The inferno comes only days after a similar fire at Budo Junior School in Kampala killed 20 pupils, creating debate about safety in schools.
The Soroti Core PTC principal, Mr Vincent Oluka, said the fire that razed Ibiya Hall, which accommodates 25 students, was suspicious.
The administration (of the PTC) has not yet ascertained the cause of the fire. We shall rely on the findings of Police, he said. Soroti Criminal Investigations Officer Fred Mugungu said investigations into the cause of the fire have been sanctioned.
Investigations are going on but I dont think the fire was caused by electricity because the institute had been in a black-out for almost a week, Mr Mugungu said, adding that preliminary reports indicate that the fire may have been caused by a lit candle inside one of the rooms.
Mary Agwapu, a 21-year-old student who survived the fire, lost all her property. We are beginning the end of term examinations today yet we have lost all our books in the fire, she said.
Mr Lewis Wegulo, who was on duty at the time the hall caught fire, said they noticed the fire at about 8:30pm. The students had gone for evening studies when we realised that the hall was on fire. The other students (from the male wing) rushed in and were able to save some property, he said.
One of the students who was in bed at the time of the fire said a big fire-ball dropped on the floor in the next cubicle, sparking off the fire.
Richard Otim
Soroti
FIRE gutted a girls dormitory at Soroti Core Primary Teachers College on Saturday evening, destroying property worth millions of shillings.
There were no deaths, but three students were rushed to Soroti Hospital for after they suffered the after-effect of smoke. Students attached to the hall lost vital documents, books and property.
A somber mood engulfed the institute on Sunday as district and security officials visited the school to establish the cause of the fire.
The inferno comes only days after a similar fire at Budo Junior School in Kampala killed 20 pupils, creating debate about safety in schools.
The Soroti Core PTC principal, Mr Vincent Oluka, said the fire that razed Ibiya Hall, which accommodates 25 students, was suspicious.
The administration (of the PTC) has not yet ascertained the cause of the fire. We shall rely on the findings of Police, he said. Soroti Criminal Investigations Officer Fred Mugungu said investigations into the cause of the fire have been sanctioned.
Investigations are going on but I dont think the fire was caused by electricity because the institute had been in a black-out for almost a week, Mr Mugungu said, adding that preliminary reports indicate that the fire may have been caused by a lit candle inside one of the rooms.
Mary Agwapu, a 21-year-old student who survived the fire, lost all her property. We are beginning the end of term examinations today yet we have lost all our books in the fire, she said.
Mr Lewis Wegulo, who was on duty at the time the hall caught fire, said they noticed the fire at about 8:30pm. The students had gone for evening studies when we realised that the hall was on fire. The other students (from the male wing) rushed in and were able to save some property, he said.
One of the students who was in bed at the time of the fire said a big fire-ball dropped on the floor in the next cubicle, sparking off the fire.
