Masaka SSS to continue operating following fire outbreak

By Our Reporter

10^th Oct 2023

The Security Committee in Masaka City and the Management of Masaka Senior Secondary School has resolved to keep the school in operation, after a fire outbreak that razed down a students’ dormitory.

The fire that broke out in the wee hours of Tuesday destroyed a block on the girls’ dormitory wing, which was accommodating close to 100 students in Senior Four and Senior Six.

The fire reduced students’ properties including bedding, clothes, books and other scholastic materials to ashes.

On Tuesday morning, several parents rushed to the school in panic, demanding to take their children home until the situation normalized.

The School Head Teacher Hajj Musa Musoke Mpungu says a crisis meeting between the security and Board of Governors has resolved to keep the school open so that students can prepare to write their final examinations.

He says, despite the heavy losses caused, all the students escaped unhurt, and there is no justifiable reason to halt studies, adding that they are going to mobilize for books and other materials to enable them to continue with lessons.

The examination timetable released by the Uganda National Examinations Board-UNEB shows that Senior Four candidates will undergo a briefing this Friday 13^th October and commence exams on October 16th while Senior Six candidates will have their briefing on November 10th and start writing exams on November 13th.

Unlike the students who were terrified by the fire, Mpungu says the teachers remained composed and are currently providing counseling to the students to support them in recovering from the fear and proceeding with their studies.

Jamada Wandera, the Greater Masaka Police Spokesperson says they are going to maintain a security presence at the school to continue monitoring the situation.

He adds that security preliminary reports suggest that the fire outbreak resulted from power short-circuiting, which occurred in a ceiling in one of the dormitories.

In 2016, Masaka Secondary School, which operates from Masaka City, was closed and 10 male students were arrested on allegations of attempting to set the school ablaze in a foiled strike, as they demanded the removal of the Head Teacher whom they accused of maladministration and highhandedness.

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