Mukono – Parents whose children perished in the fire at Salama School of the Blind in Mukono district have been summoned to the Naguru Forensics Department for DNA testing.
Eleven girls were burnt to death and six others injured when their hostel caught fire on Monday night. The deceased children have since been identified as Shamilah Kalamu and Gladys Namuga (P5), Pretty Pillioty (P4), Patricia Mudondo and Peace Naluminsa (P3), Josephine Namuwonge, Agnes Nantume, Rebeccah Namulondo, Veronica Nassali, Ket Nanduttu and Leticia Nakayima (P1).
Those hospitalized are Damali Nalugwa, Blessing Namuyomba, Paula Ndagire, Stecia Nabuma, Annet Namawejje, and Docus Ulika. On Tuesday evening, health officials picked saliva from the parents of the deceased children for DNA testing to ease the identification of the bodies in vain.
The Headteacher, Fred Kinubi later contacted all the parents to return for a blood DNA test, saying the saliva had failed to result.
Some of the parents of the affected children slept at the school waiting to pick up their remains once they are positively identified. Juliet Nabaggala, one of the parents and residents of Mbuya in Kampala, says that they were assured that the DNA testing would take a short time to allow them pick the remains of their children for burial.
URN has since established that the Prime Minister’s office is conducting the DNA testing and identification process. Once the tests are done, the remains shall be returned to the school where they shall be handed over to the parents for burial after the service.
Meanwhile, the head teacher has also revealed to our reporter that the children admitted at Mulago and Kiruddu hospitals are yet to respond to treatment.
The Ministry of Education and Sports has listed immediate and long-term measures aimed at restoring a proper and convenient study environment at the school.
On Tuesday, the State Minister for primary education, Dr. Joyce Moriku Kaducu listed six measures, which include the immediate restoration of the damaged property using an emergency fund, providing spiritual support to the learners, counseling teachers and learners, registration of the boarding section and the permanent deployment of security guards as well as including the school facility grant in the next district budget.
Kaduchu tasked the district education department to handle the counseling of learners and teachers, saying that the Ministry of Education Permanent Secretary will handle the issues that require direct funding. According to Kaduchu, with the measures set, parents should trust the school with their children again.
“For you the parents, I am humbly appealing to you, not to go with your children back home. I want you to leave the children here, I am not forcing you. I am reaffirming our commitment to you that will ensure the safety of your children as I have told you the measures we have put in place that we are going to effect immediately,” Said the minister.
Source: URN
