By Peter Luzinda
OMORO
An eight-year-old pupil has died and three others have been injured after strong winds and heavy rain caused a school dormitory to collapse in Omoro District on Saturday morning, 24th October, 2026.
The deceased, Benisa Lagum, a Primary Three pupil at Bright Light Nursery and Primary School, was reportedly sleeping alongside the other girls when the dormitory walls caved in, trapping them under the debris.
The incident occurred at about 6:30am in Wii Lamin Ayila Village, Paidong Parish, Bobi Sub-county, after strong winds reportedly blew off the roof before the walls gave way.
The four girls were sleeping on beds near the dormitory door when the structure collapsed, leaving them trapped beneath the falling walls.
The three survivors were identified as Viola Caffy Apio, 12, a Primary Four pupil; Abigel Atim, 11, a Primary Five pupil; and Gift Lanyero, 10, a Primary Three pupil.
The injured pupils were rushed for medical attention. Atim remained admitted to Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, while Apio and Lanyero were discharged on Saturday evening.
Police said investigations were underway to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The tragedy has renewed concerns about the safety of school buildings, particularly dormitories where children sleep and may have limited time to escape when structures collapse.
Chris Woo, the Omoro District Secretary for Health, Education and Community Development, warned that the district would take action against unlicensed private schools, including those operating in dilapidated buildings.
The warning comes amid questions about the condition of facilities in some private schools and the responsibility of proprietors to ensure that buildings used by learners are safe.
The incident is also likely to draw attention to the need for regular inspections of school infrastructure, especially boarding facilities exposed to heavy rain and strong winds.
Authorities are expected to establish the circumstances that led to the collapse and determine whether the school met the required safety standards.
For the family of Lagum, the incident has ended in the loss of a young child, while the three injured pupils continue to recover from the tragedy.
