Publisher's Synopsis
On the night of April 14th 2008, 20 school girls were burnt to death when their dormitory caught fire. The incident happened at Budo Junior School, in Wakiso district in Uganda. The bodies of the victims were burnt beyond recognition. The death toll would have been much higher had it not been for the brave act of the 10 year old Dorm Captain, Yvonne Namaganda who kept going back and forth rescuing other girls and carrying them to safety. When Yvonne Namaganda's mom was told that there had been a fire at Nassolo dormitory, she started crying right away; she knew her baby was among the dead. "Namaganda would never let any harm occur to any child. When I heard about that fire, I knew she was gone. My daughter would never let anyone get hurt. She would be long dead before that could happen," said Mrs. Joanita Nakityo.In Parliament, the Government of Uganda declared Yvonne Namaganda a national hero for her act. Namaganda, was also awarded the Heroine of the Year Young Achievers Award for 2009 for her bravery and ultimate sacrifice. "When Namaganda woke up, she started waking up our friends but I called her to get out because the fire was increasing," said Susan Atieno, a P5 student who survived the tragedy. "She brought out other students in turns. But the last time she went back, she did not return." "Run and call Jjajja Damalie," she instructed them. Then she began to get the rest to safety. "I have to help the others," she told those who tried to stop her from going back. To add to the national heartbreak were the widespread reports that the fire was a result of arson. "Preliminary investigations indicate that it was homicide," Kale Kaihura, the Uganda Police Inspector General, told reporters at the school. He said that interviews with teachers and survivors led him to believe the fire was started deliberately.Frederick Bugembe, a teacher at Budo Junior School, said there were 63 girls in the dormitory, but some managed to wriggle through narrow windows. "It is understood that the doors to the dormitory were locked from the outside," he added. The police arrested the dormitory matron, Damalie Basirika, and three security guards: who were all charged with criminal negligence.Buganda Road Chief Magistrates Court, however, dismissed all charges against all the accused. Chief Magistrate Vincent Mugabo stated in his ruling that the accused had no case to answer since there was no evidence against them as being responsible for the fire. The former headmaster Dr. William Kayongo was charged with putting 63 students in a dormitory meant for 31. The prosecution argued that the congestion contributed to the failure to rescue the victims. But the Magistrate ruled that Kayongo was no longer the head teacher of the school at the time the said incident happened and therefore could not be held liable. He instead faulted the School Management Committee for its failure to oversee and ensure that minimum basic safety standards were maintained in students' dormitories. While the police accused the matron of neglecting to sleep with the girls, the court was convinced that, Damalie Basirika had to get accommodation outside the dormitory because of lack of space within the dormitory, an arrangement that management was aware of and approved. Although she was expected to stay on campus. Sections of the media were awash with stories that faulted the matron. They reported that she did not sleep on campus on the night of the fire. It was alleged that she was at her boyfriend's house that night. Yvonne stepped up and took charge, a decision that cost her her life.
