POLICE are investigating a fire that has destroyed part of a diocesan boarding school in Uganda.

Four boys’ dormitories at Bwera Senior Secondary School, in the Kasese district, were destroyed in the blaze, which began one evening when all students were out of the building. At least 125 students have lost all their property, the head teacher, Milton Masereka, says.

It is believed that the fire started outside the front door, and police are investigating potential arson. It broke out during a clergy and spouses’ conference in Kasese, which was being run by the charity Sharing of Ministries Abroad (SOMA UK).

Bishop Nason Baluka, who chairs the school’s trustees, left the conference to go to the school. “Bwera Secondary school caught fire, and all students’ property that included beds, mattresses, blankets, bed sheets, books, cases, jerry cans, and the loss of the building roof for the boys dormitory, that accommodates 400 students, were destroyed,” he said.

“To date, we have not known the source of the fire, and police have not given their report. Kindly continue standing with us in prayer that our school will go back to its normal operation.”

Edgar Bwambale, a student at the school, said that the light in the dormitories went off, and, after a short time, power returned, and they instantly heard a blast, which was followed by smoke.

There has been a spate of fires at schools in Uganda since the start of the year, some of which have caused fatalities. Police in April said many of the fires had been started deliberately in school dormitories.

Clergy at the conference donated money to help rebuild the school. For information on how to donate to SOMA UK, email the national director, Richard Moy: info@somauk.org

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