Fire does not give warnings, and it certainly does not wait for you to be ready. In Alebtong, Uganda, the message is clear: the difference between a minor incident and a total catastrophe lies in how prepared we are today. Tom Richard Ocen Agwec, a leading fire safety expert and the head of JP Fire Prevention Trainers and Consultant, is sounding a powerful alarm. He warns that despite some progress, many schools, households, and high-risk businesses like fuel stations are still gambling with human lives by neglecting basic safety protocols.
During a recent intensive training session at Aloi Secondary School, students and faculty were shown that fire safety is more than just having a red cylinder on the wall. It is about a mindset of vigilance. Agwec has dedicated the last two years to this cause, training over 40 schools to ensure that teachers and students alike possess the practical skills needed to suppress flames and evacuate safely. While he commends the institutions that have stepped up to purchase equipment and seek professional guidance, he is deeply concerned about the businesses and transport operators who continue to operate in the shadows of danger, lacking even the most fundamental firefighting tools or trained personnel.
The reality is staggering. Some fuel stations, which handle highly flammable materials every single day, are operating with staff who have no idea how to respond to a sudden spark. Agwec is calling on every business owner, school administrator, and head of a household to stop viewing fire safety as an optional expense and start seeing it as a vital lifeline. Proper training and functional equipment like fire extinguishers, hydrants, and smoke detectors are not just recommendations; they are essential tools for survival.
Echoing this sentiment, Dorcus Ejang, the headteacher of Aloi Secondary School, emphasized that while training is invaluable, prevention remains the ultimate goal. She urged her students to respect the equipment provided, reminding them that firefighting tools are for genuine emergencies only and should never be mishandled. In her view, protecting a human life will always be infinitely more important than saving a building or a piece of furniture. She also encouraged young people to consider a career in firefighting, highlighting it as a noble profession that offers both employment opportunities and the chance to serve the public good.
It is also a matter of legal responsibility. Under Ugandan law, including the National Building Code and the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 2006, public institutions and transporters of hazardous materials are required to maintain strict safety standards. This includes installing approved alarms, conducting regular fire drills, and appointing trained fire wardens. Whether you are running a hospital, an office, or a fuel tanker, compliance is not just about following the rules; it is about ensuring that everyone who enters your premises or uses your services returns home safely. The time to act is now, before the next siren sounds. Don’t wait for a tragedy to realize the value of a fire extinguisher.