Kampala — Residents on Wednesday night battled a fire that damaged an administration block at Aduku Road SDA Primary School in Lira municipality.

The damaged block also houses Primary One and Two classrooms and the office of the headmaster. According to the school watchman, Francis Acoto, smoke was seen emerging from the upper storey of the building at about 8:45pm, upon which he raised an alarm.

Residents from a drinking joint near the school arrived at the scene soon after and battled the fire, which seemed to have started in the northern section of the building.

"The electric pole behind the school fell during heavy rains and the wires fell on the building. But at the time power had gone off. So, when power came back, I saw smoke coming from the upper storey of the administration block," the watchman narrated.

Richard Owiny, the headmaster, said the people who came to rescue the property in his office spoiled the photocopying machine. The school management committee chairman, David Twomo, said they would convene an emergency meeting to assess the damage. "We are not yet fully convinced with the reports. An investigation should be done to dig out the truth behind this incident," said Joshua Ogwang, a parent.