Alebtong, Uganda | Schools, businesses, fuel stations and households have been urged to strengthen fire safety preparedness amid concerns that inadequate preventive measures continue to expose lives and property to avoidable disasters.
The call was made by fire safety consultant Tom Richard Ocen Agwec, proprietor of JP Fire Prevention Trainers and Consultant, after conducting fire safety training for students and staff at Aloi Secondary School on Monday.
Agwec said his firm has trained more than 40 schools over the past two years, equipping students, teachers and surrounding communities with practical skills in fire prevention, emergency response and the proper use of fire extinguishers.
He said the response from schools had been encouraging, with many institutions procuring firefighting equipment and seeking professional training to improve emergency preparedness.
However, he expressed concern that some fuel stations are still operating without basic fire safety measures, leaving workers ill-equipped to respond to fire outbreaks.
Agwec said that although more institutions are taking fire safety seriously, some businesses are still operating without the minimum firefighting equipment or trained personnel, warning that preparedness is essential in saving lives.
He appealed to schools, public institutions, business owners, transport operators and households to install firefighting equipment and ensure that those responsible for emergency response are properly trained to use it effectively.
At the training, students received both theoretical lessons and practical demonstrations on preventing fires, responding to emergencies and operating fire extinguishers safely.
Aloi Secondary School headteacher Dorcus Ejang said the training had equipped learners with practical skills but emphasised that preventing fires remained more important than responding to them.
She cautioned students against mishandling firefighting equipment, warning that damaged or improperly used fire extinguishers could pose additional danger.
Acen advised students to use firefighting equipment only during genuine emergencies and encouraged those who were not confident in operating it to seek assistance, stressing that protecting human life should always take precedence over saving property.
She also welcomed continued partnerships in fire safety education and encouraged interested students to consider firefighting as a career, saying the profession offers employment opportunities while contributing to public safety.
Uganda’s legal framework requires public institutions and transporters of hazardous materials to comply with fire safety standards under the National Building Code, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2006, and regulations enforced by the National Building Review Board, the Directorate of Fire Prevention and Rescue Services and the Uganda Police Fire Brigade.
The law requires schools, hospitals, offices and other public facilities to install and maintain approved firefighting equipment, including fire extinguishers, hose reels, hydrants, smoke detectors and fire alarms, provide clearly marked emergency exits, appoint trained fire wardens and conduct regular fire drills as part of their emergency preparedness programmes.
Fuel tanker operators are also required to carry appropriate firefighting equipment, comply with hazardous cargo transport regulations and observe government directives designed to reduce the risk of major fire incidents.
Authorities continue to encourage institutions to regularly assess compliance with fire safety requirements to enhance preparedness and safeguard lives and property.