Police to issue new fire guidelines

Government is set to release a new set of guidelines to be followed by schools in the fight against rampant fires and any other indiscipline that may weigh heavily on institutions of learning. The Deputy Director Criminal Investigations Directorate, Hajji Balimwoyo, says these guidelines are a joint effort of some of the countries top brains and if followed will see fires a thing of the past.

The guidelines against fires come in the wake of increased school fires that have seen about thirty schools fall victim. They have been developed after consultations with several ministries and security personnel, as guided by the head of state, President Yoweri Museveni.

The Deputy Director Criminal Investigations Directorate ,Hajji Balimwoyo say these guidelines, which among other things recommend safety measures like enhanced installations of fire extinguishers, will be released by the end of next week.

He however objects to public perception that police officials sometimes have business interests in pushing the public to adopt a given measure. The leader of the opposition in parliament, Prof. Ogenga Latigo, is one of the people who is skeptical about some of the recommended safety measures.

But Hajji Balimwoyo says a history of non-adherence to safety measures has cost lives and he cites the example of negligence to road safety recommendations. Police is also calling on the public to follow these guidelines as and when they are released.