The government has issued fire safety guidelines that it said schools should implement to prevent and handle fire outbreaks.
Before they reopen for First Term, schools according to the latest guidelines issued by the National Building Review Board (NBRB) should, among others, ensure they all have functioning fire extinguishers, install fire and smoke detectors, fire horse reels, avail emergency exits well labelled, improved roofing, fire hydrants, among others.
The Executive Secretary of the NBRB, MsFlavia G. Bwire, told journalists that many schools are prone to fires because they have not put in place adequate fire-fighting measures.
MsBwire added that there was inconsiderate use of burglar proofing with regard to life safety, lack of knowledge on fire safety and emergency response, inaccessible dormitories and lack of emergency exits.
Many schools have in the last five years experienced fire outbreaks leading to deaths, with the recent one being Kasana Junior School in Masaka City, which claimed the lives of seven pupils and injured five others on October 29, 2023.
