Tragedy in Omoro as Windstorm Collapses School Dormitory, Killing One Pupil

A heavy downpour accompanied by strong winds has left a community in grief after a dormitory at Bright Light Nursery and Primary School in Omoro District collapsed on Saturday morning. The incident, which occurred at around 6:30 am, claimed the life of eight-year-old Benisa Lagum on the spot.

According to local authorities, the violent winds first ripped off the roof of the dormitory, carrying it nearly 30 meters away, before the walls caved in. Four young girls sleeping on beds adjacent to the doorway were buried under falling bricks and a metallic door. Lagum, a Primary Three pupil, suffered fatal head injuries.

Her sister, Viola Caffy Apio, along with schoolmates Abigel Atim and Gift Lanyero, sustained serious injuries and were rushed to Gulu Regional Referral Hospital. While Lanyero and Apio were discharged later that evening, Atim remained hospitalized with severe fractures ranging from her shoulders to her knees.

Local leaders have expressed deep concern over the safety standards of private educational institutions in the region. Mr. Chris Woo, the Omoro District Secretary for Health, Education and Community Development, revealed that the district plans to crack down on more than 60 unlicensed private schools operating in dilapidated structures. Authorities are awaiting police investigations to determine if negligence played a role in the tragedy.

Regional police spokesperson SP Patrick Jimmy Okema stated that Scene of Crime Officers documented the area to ascertain whether the disaster was strictly a natural occurrence or compounded by structural negligence. For more details on this incident, read the full report on Daily Monitor.