Two pupils have been confirmed dead and three others critically injured after a devastating late-night fire gutted a boys’ dormitory at Hami Junior School in Maganjo B Zone, Nansana Municipality, Wakiso District.
The tragedy unfolded at approximately 10:30 PM on Monday, October 19, 2026, triggering a frantic joint rescue operation involving teachers, local residents, and emergency teams from the Uganda Police Force.
Police identified the deceased pupils as 8-year-old Rania Namusoke (Primary One) and 10-year-old Abdulshakur Bwete (Primary Three). Their bodies were retrieved from their beds after the flames were extinguished and subsequently conveyed to the City Mortuary at Mulago for post-mortem examinations.
Three surviving pupils who sustained burn injuries were rushed to Bethel Medical Centre for emergency treatment:
Yusuf Miyingo Alcham (13, Primary Seven)
Hamidu Muyimba (9, Primary Three)
Hasadu Kazibwe (7, Primary One)
Eyewitness Accounts and Emergency Response
John Kiwanuka, the chairperson of Maganjo B Cell, reported receiving an alert around 11:00 PM and immediately joined the scene to coordinate evacuation efforts.
“Residents joined teachers and police officers in evacuating the children from the dormitories, but two pupils were later discovered missing,” Kiwanuka explained. “On searching the dormitories, their bodies were found in the beds where they died.”
Kiwanuka confirmed that the fire was completely extinguished around 3:00 AM on Tuesday.
Scene-of-crime officers cordoned off the school premises by Tuesday morning. Preliminary police findings revealed structural vulnerabilities inside the dormitory, noting that the space was heavily partitioned with wooden materials and fitted with double- and triple-decker beds.
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While official forensic reports are pending, local leaders and residents suspect an electrical fault triggered by frequent power instability in the area.
Nansana Municipality Member of Parliament, Zambaali Bulasio Mukasa, expressed deep concern over erratic power supply across his constituency, stating that local police commanders suspect an electrical origin.
“The Nansana Division Police Commander has confirmed to me that this fire was caused by electricity. Power in this area is always on and off, which creates high chances of creating short circuits,” Mukasa stated, promising to raise the issue on the floor of Parliament.
Nansana Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Charles Lwanga confirmed the deaths and appealed for public calm as investigations proceed. Lwanga also urged institutions to properly manage internal fire hazards, including gas cylinders and charcoal stoves.
Coinciding Hotel Blaze in Nansana
The school tragedy occurred alongside another late-night fire outbreak in Nansana Municipality on Monday. At around 8:15 PM, a fire gutted the rooftop structure of Ivory Hotel in Nansana West 1B, West Ward.
Witnesses reported seeing electrical sparks at a nearby power transformer during voltage fluctuations shortly before flames engulfed the hotel’s rooftop quarters. Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesperson ASP Luke Owoyesigyire confirmed that fire crews contained the hotel blaze with no casualties recorded.
Police Issues Safety Advisory for Boarding Schools
In response to the recent fires—including a recent incident at Wandegeya Police Station—the Uganda Police Force has issued an urgent fire safety advisory targeting schools, commercial establishments, and public facilities nationwide.
ASP Owoyesigyire stressed the necessity of:
Certified Wiring Checks: Mandatory inspection of electrical installations by licensed technicians and avoiding socket overloading.
Fire Safety Hardware: Installing functional fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and clearly marked emergency exits in all sleeping quarters.
Routine Evacuation Drills: Conducting regular safety drills, particularly for institutions housing young children.
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