By Stephen Kalema
The Uganda Police has offered counseling to traumatised students of St Bernard Senior Secondary School, Manya in Rakai District following a fire outbreak that gutted a dormitory housing 50 Senior Three students.
The fire claimed the lives of at least 10 of their schoolmates while approximately 50 students were rushed to Kitovu Hospital by local police and residents. Property worth millions such as mattresses, suitcases and clothes were also destroyed in the fire.
The dormitory is said to have been locked from the outside thus stopping most of the students from escaping.
Police Spokesman Emilian Kayima told journalists on Monday that Senior Six candidates, who started their final exams on Monday morning were traumatised and the tragedy would affect them.
“The fire outbreak was very traumatising to students especially Senior Six students. Fortunately our counselors have spoken with them and they are fit to do their exams,” said Kayima.
The cause of fire outbreak is still unknown. However, Police, suspect 10 Senior Four students who were expelled from school before they could sit their UCE exams due to indiscipline tendencies.
“There is high suspicion that the expelled Senior Four students are responsible for the tragedy,” Kayima said. “One of them has been apprehended for interrogations as investigations go on.”
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