An overnight fire at primary school dormitory in Uganda killed 19 school children and two adults, police said on Tuesday. By the time the fire brigade reached the school, most of the girl's dormitory had already burned down. The students were between the ages of 7 and 10.

Authorities were investigating the cause of the fire at the Buddo primary school, 12 kilometres from the capital, Kampala, said police spokeswoman Judith Nabakooba.

The doors to the dormitory had been locked from the outside and there was no electricity during the time of the fire, said school worker James Kiiza.

"We suspect that bad people are responsible for the fire," he said. "We cannot say it was due to electricity short circuit. And the door was locked from outside, which shows that someone could have first locked the door before setting the fire." He said workers have been on strike for more than a month because they have not been paid.

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