Rakai school fire trial: Ex-head teacher claims suspect was in custody

The trial into the 2018 fire that tragically claimed the lives of 10 students at St. Bernard Secondary School in Manya, Rakai, reconvened with the prosecution presenting its second witness. Appearing before Masaka High Court, ex-head teacher Henry Nsubuga raised questions about the evidence, stating that one of the three individuals accused of the arson, Dickson Kisule, was reportedly in police custody at the time of the incident.

Nsubuga testified that on November 10, 2018, a day before the fire, Kisule was found on school grounds despite having been suspended along with other students for “unruly and bullying behaviour.” Kisule claimed he was seeking assistance with his clearance form. Nsubuga found this suspicious and reported him to Manya Police Post, where he was detained and charged with criminal trespass. The former head teacher expressed his confusion as to how Kisule was subsequently linked to the fatal fire.

The incident, which also left 11 students hospitalized, deeply affects Nsubuga, who recalled the perpetrators having locked the students inside the dormitory, making rescue efforts incredibly difficult. The accused, Henry Taremwa, Alex Mugarura, and Dickson Kisule, face charges including arson, murder, and attempted murder.

The defense lawyer, Sam Ssekyewa, indicated that multiple witness statements, including those from teachers, were recorded by police. He submitted Nsubuga’s police statement as defense evidence, suggesting it contains information relevant to understanding the motive behind the fire, potentially linked to dissatisfaction among some staff with school policies. The defense also presented video evidence purportedly showing a man confessing to involvement in the fire. The court has adjourned for further proceedings.

Read more at the Daily Monitor: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/rakai-school-fire-ex-head-teacher-says-one-of-the-accused-was-already-in-custody-5514328