At least 17 children and two adults were killed by a fire in a primary school dormitory in Uganda, fire brigade officials said today.
The fire started in a dormitory block at the Budo Junior School outside Kampala last night. The children were aged between seven and ten.
People look inside a burnt boarding school after a fire broke out in a dormitory block at Budo Junior School, 17km west of Kampala
"As per last night, there were 17 children who had died and two adults also died while attempting to rescue the children," said Simon Musoke, a safety officer with the fire department.
School worker James Kiiza said the doors to the dormitory were locked from the outside and there was no electricity during the time of the fire. He said workers have been on strike over a month because they have not been paid.