Property worth millions of shillings has been destroyed after a fire gutted a dormitory at Elgon Junior Christian School in Mutufu Town Council, Mbale District.
The fire broke out at around 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, reducing the structure to ashes and leaving several students without their personal belongings.
No injuries or fatalities were reported, as the incident occurred during class hours when most learners were away from the dormitory.
Henry Jonah Wambede, LC I Chairperson of Police Cell in Central Ward, said he spotted smoke from a distance and rushed to the scene.
“By the time I arrived, the dormitory was already on fire,” he said.
Wambede added that five to six pupils who had remained behind were quickly evacuated before the fire intensified.
Preliminary findings have ruled out electricity as the cause, with local leaders confirming that power had been off in the area for several days.
The development has raised suspicion among residents, many of whom believe the fire could have been deliberately set.
Simon Woniala, a concerned parent, expressed frustration over the losses.
“Electricity has not been on for about three days. We suspect arson. Many of us had just bought items for our children, and everything has been lost,” he said.
Fire brigade teams responded in time to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to nearby buildings, averting a wider disaster.
Authorities have launched investigations to establish the exact cause of the fire, as parents and residents call for improved security and accountability at the school.
Police had not yet issued an official statement by the time of filing this report.
