Police in Kabale are investigating the cause of a fire that broke out at Solberg Secondary School in Nyabikoni, Kabale Municipality, on Saturday afternoon, after the blaze prompted a swift response from the Police Fire and Rescue Services.
According to Kigezi Regional Police, firefighters quickly arrived at the school and managed to contain the fire before it spread to other buildings within the school compound. Their timely response helped prevent what could have been a much bigger disaster.
Police said they are still assessing the extent of the damage and determining the value of the property destroyed by the fire. The exact cause of the incident has not yet been established.
Following the incident, police have urged school administrators to strengthen fire safety measures to protect students, teachers and school property from similar emergencies.
Among the recommendations, police advised schools to ensure that all students’ dormitories have clear and easily accessible emergency exits. They also warned against overcrowding in dormitories, saying it can make evacuation difficult during emergencies.
Police further encouraged all schools to conduct fire drills at least once every school term so that students and staff know how to respond quickly and safely whenever a fire breaks out.
Schools were also advised to teach students basic fire safety skills, including how to safely put out small fires before they spread, where it is appropriate to do so.
Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing, and police say more information will be released after the assessment of the damage and completion of the investigations.
Kigezi Regional Police spokesperson SP Nelson Tumushime confirmed the incident and reiterated the importance of observing fire safety measures in schools to prevent similar occurrences.
