UPC asks Education Ministry to order schools install fire detecting devices

By Charles Katabalwa

19^th Jan 2022

The opposition Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) calls for installation of fire detecting devices in school buildings, periodic and spot on inspection by the Ministry of Education and Sports to save lives and property following the re-emerging fire-outbreaks in the country.

Sharon Arch, the party Spokesperson while addressing journalists at UPC headquarters this Wednesday in Kampala said that the country needs a high degree of preparedness especially with schools that are re-opening after two years of inactivity and thorough check on all the electricity facilities to ensure reliance and safety of the learners.

Arach has also questioned the extent to which the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has fulfilled its mandate of inspecting to ascertain the readiness of products on the market including electric appliances believed to be behind the fire outbreaks since most of them are fake and cheap in terms of prices.

This comes after the death of at least five pupils, four of New Crest Junior at Kibedi Day and Boarding Primary School in Kawempe Division, Kampala City and one in Kyotera after their dormitories caught fire in the first week of resumption of schools on January 10^th 2022.

On the escalating fuel prices, UPC suggests that the immediate response must be to work on the oil reserves in Jinja and open regional others to save the country from the current challenge that is causing inflation in such a fragile economy.