First lady, also minister of Education and Sports Janet Kataha Museveni has visited St. Bernard-Manya SS in Rakai District where 9 s.3 students were killed in a fire on Monday morning.
Police reports indicate that the students were intentionally burnt to death by their colleagues who were expelled for bad behavior. The angry students suspected to have started the fire were all s.4 candidates.
Deputy police spokesperson Patrick Onyango says four students and a dom warden arrested. His boss Emiliyan Kayima also told a press briefing on Monday that one of the 10 s.4 students that were expelled had also been arrested.
Last evening, the first lady visited the school and expressed her sympathies to the family and school. “On behalf of President Kaguta Museveni , the Ministry of Education and Sports and on my own behalf, I wish to express my heartfelt condolences to the parents who lost their children in last night's fire at St. Bernard-Manya SS in Rakai District” she said.
The minister also promised that government will investigate and find people responsible for this tragedy as this is its responsibility. “It is our responsibility as Government to search and find the people who did this, so that they be judged accordingly; and we shall do it.”
She also urged members of the community and parents to guide students who are expelled from schools into the right direction, to avoid such tragedies. She based this on the police report about the students who are suspected to have been behind the unfortunate act.
“I understand that there are some students who had been dismissed from the school for misbehaving and they are suspected to have a hand in this incident. I implore members of the community to guide such children so that we do not raise children who are insensitive and self centered” she added.
