By Peter Luzinda
An eight-year-old pupil has died and three others sustained injuries after a windstorm caused a dormitory at Bright Light Nursery and Primary School in Omoro District to collapse.
The deceased, Benisa Lagum, a Primary Three pupil, was among four girls who were reportedly sleeping on beds near the dormitory door when the walls caved in, trapping them under the debris.
The incident happened at about 6:30am on Saturday in Wii Lamin Ayila Village, Paidong Parish, Bobi Sub-county, following heavy rain and strong winds that reportedly blew off the dormitory roof before the walls gave way.
The three survivors were identified as Viola Caffy Apio, 12, a Primary Four pupil; Abigel Atim, 11, a Primary Five pupil; and Gift Lanyero, 10, a Primary Three pupil.
The injured girls were rushed for treatment. Atim remained admitted to Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, while Apio and Lanyero were discharged on Saturday evening.
Police said investigations were ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the collapse.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about the safety of school buildings, particularly dormitories where pupils sleep and may have little opportunity to escape when a structure suddenly collapses.
Chris Woo, the Omoro District Secretary for Health, Education and Community Development, warned that the district would take action against unlicensed private schools, including those operating in dilapidated buildings.
His warning comes amid renewed attention to the condition of school facilities and the responsibility of education authorities to ensure that institutions provide safe environments for learners.
School dormitories are expected to offer protection to children during the night and early morning hours. However, buildings with weak walls or roofs can expose pupils to serious danger, particularly during periods of heavy rain and strong winds.
Authorities are expected to establish the circumstances that led to the collapse and determine whether any safety concerns contributed to the tragedy.
For the affected families, the incident has ended in the loss of a young child, while the three injured pupils continue to recover from an accident that has once again raised questions about the safety of school infrastructure.
