Parents whose children died in the fire at Salama School of the Blind in the Mukono district have been asked to bring their DNA samples to the Naguru Forensics Department.
Eleven girls were burnt to death and six others were injured when their hostel caught fire on Monday night. 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) are the names of the children who died.
Those hospitalised 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.
Fred Kinubi, the headteacher, later called all of the parents and told them that the saliva DNA test didn’t show anything, so they all had to come back for a blood DNA test.
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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 to pick up 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. Different people, including religious leaders and organizations, are still flocking to the school to sympathize with the management and parents.
The Kibuli-based Supreme Mufti, Sheikh Muhammad Galabuzi, has condemned whoever had a hand in the deaths of the minors for causing pain to the parents, school, and the entire country.
The Mukono South Members of Parliament and the area woman legislator, Hanifah Nabukeera, have asked the government to expedite investigations into the cause of the fire. “I appeal to the security teams responsible for investigating this matter. Let’s make a difference from the past incidents of fire that have been happening in various schools across the country. Let’s have a timely report. “I assure you that we will not stop demanding it,” Kayondo stated.
