Property worth millions of shillings has been destroyed after fire gutted a dormitory at the Hoima Town Mosque Nursery and Primary School in Hoima City.

The fire has reduced to ashes pupils' property, including books, mattresses, and clothes. It also destroyed lock-up shops along the Old Tooro Road in Hoima city.

The Hoima Resident City Commissioner, Badru Mugabi who rushed to the scene said that the fire started from the dormitory and spread to other areas.

He commended the school leadership for their timely report to the police fire and rescue team at Hoima Central Police Station which immediately responded and put out the fire.

Mugabi explained that the huge flames spread and also destroyed the property of various traders in the lockups that share the same premises with the ill-fated school dormitory.

Preliminary reports indicate that the fire outbreak was caused by an electric short circuit. However, this is not yet conclusive.

Mugabi says the Hoima City Council authorities will soon conduct an audit in all schools to assess their preparedness in case of any fire outbreak.

Gerald Kyoshaba, one of the affected traders, said that he lost a lot of property. He appealed to the landlord to give the traders a grace period to recover before paying rent.

Julius Hakiza, the Albertine Region police spokesperson said that investigations into the cause of the fire have begun. The incident comes three days after one student died and three others were injured when fire gutted two dormitories at Kyamate Secondary School in Ntungamo Municipality, on Sunday night.