Archival Sense
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- Dec 16, 2025
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The Masaka High Court has begun hearing the long-awaited case arising from the 2018 fire at St. Bernard's Secondary School, Manya, in Rakai District, which claimed the lives of 10 students.
The trial, presided over by Justice Victoria Nakintu Nkwanga, opened with testimony from the prosecution's first witness, the school's former Deputy Headteacher. The witness told court that the fatal blaze, which broke out on the night of November 11, 2018, occurred just three days after another attempted fire at the school had been thwarted.
According to the witness, school authorities had already heightened vigilance following the earlier incident, but the measures proved insufficient to prevent the deadly inferno that engulfed the boys' dormitory, killing 10 students and leaving the nation in mourning.
Three suspects, Henry Taremwa, Alex Mugarura and Dickson Kisule, are jointly charged with arson and 10 counts of murder in connection with the fire. They have denied the charges.
The accused are represented by defense lawyer Sam Ssekyewa, while the prosecution continues to present its evidence before the High Court.
Video courtesy of Daily Monitor
The case, which has taken nearly eight years to reach full trial, is one of Uganda's most tragic school fire incidents and is expected to draw significant public interest as survivors, families of the victims, and the wider community seek justice.
The hearing is scheduled to resume on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, when the prosecution is expected to continue presenting its witnesses.
The trial, presided over by Justice Victoria Nakintu Nkwanga, opened with testimony from the prosecution's first witness, the school's former Deputy Headteacher. The witness told court that the fatal blaze, which broke out on the night of November 11, 2018, occurred just three days after another attempted fire at the school had been thwarted.
According to the witness, school authorities had already heightened vigilance following the earlier incident, but the measures proved insufficient to prevent the deadly inferno that engulfed the boys' dormitory, killing 10 students and leaving the nation in mourning.
Three suspects, Henry Taremwa, Alex Mugarura and Dickson Kisule, are jointly charged with arson and 10 counts of murder in connection with the fire. They have denied the charges.
The accused are represented by defense lawyer Sam Ssekyewa, while the prosecution continues to present its evidence before the High Court.
Video courtesy of Daily Monitor
The case, which has taken nearly eight years to reach full trial, is one of Uganda's most tragic school fire incidents and is expected to draw significant public interest as survivors, families of the victims, and the wider community seek justice.
The hearing is scheduled to resume on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, when the prosecution is expected to continue presenting its witnesses.
