Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Uganda Monitor
Published on 2024-03-23 03:00:00
An article published on Friday in the Monitor highlighted a clash between police and school authorities in Kasese District regarding recent fires at Margherita Demonstration Primary School and Bukangara Childcare Nursery and Primary Schools. Both school authorities claim they reported the outbreaks to the police, but the police fire brigade was slow to respond.
Mr. Alfred Kule, the director of Bukangara Childcare Nursery and Primary School, stated that when he notified the police about the fire, they arrived without proper firefighting equipment. While they helped organize the students for safety, they lacked adequate firefighting support. On the other hand, Mr. Nixon Marahi, the head teacher of Margherita Demonstration Primary School, mentioned that upon informing the police about the fire, they arrived with an empty water tanker, further delaying the firefighting process.
Despite the accusations of police incompetence by school authorities, the issue of slow response time by the police fire brigade is a common perception among the public. Residents often report that it takes hours for the police to respond to fire emergencies, highlighting the need for improved efficiency.
The blame game between school authorities and the police on who should take responsibility is unnecessary. Instead, efforts should be directed towards enhancing the response time of the police fire brigade. Similar to how the police have improved response to demonstrations and protests, resources should be allocated to bolster the anti-fire unit. It is crucial to procure more fire trucks for police units nationwide and ensure they are equipped with fuel and water at all times.
Additionally, the police should make contacts of fire brigade personnel readily available to the public to minimize delays in reporting emergencies. Outreach programs should be expanded to educate institutions and individuals on fire prevention and firefighting techniques. With proper training, fires can be contained before causing extensive damage and endangering lives.
In conclusion, addressing the issues surrounding the effectiveness of the police fire brigade is essential to safeguard communities from the devastating effects of fires. By focusing on improving response time, enhancing resources, and increasing public awareness, the police can better protect schools and other institutions from fire disasters.
Read the original article on Uganda Monitor
