A fire broke out in the early hours of Tuesday morning at a school for visually impaired children in Uganda, killing eleven youngsters.

Four others are being treated in the hospital for critical injuries.

The origin of the fire at the boarding school in Mukono, east of Kampala, is under investigation, but such accidents are not unusual.

In 2008, one of the nation's worst school fires occurreded at Buddo Junior School. Nineteen children died.

At least 27 youngsters are believed to have slept in the impacted dormitory at the Salama School for the Blind.

Parents in distress have gathered at the scene.

Richard Muhimba, whose child was killed in the fire, told the AFP news agency, "There are no words to describe my anguish."

Dr. Moses Keeya, who works at the local hospital that initially received the injured, stated that they were severely hurt and "mostly incurred injuries to the arms, legs, and chest. One of them has a severe head burn ". The Kiruddu National Hospital in Kampala has referred four children. Two patients with minor injuries have been released and sent home.

Minister of Education Joyce Kaduchu has also met with parents at the school.

"We are all quite heartbroken," she remarked.

"Our educational system affords everyone a chance, regardless of their physical limitations. We have lost eleven children due to tragic circumstances."

She stated that DNA testing will need to be performed on the irretrievably burned bodies of the youngsters.

In the past, children using candles in their dorms after lights out and leaving them burning caused school fires.

Overcrowding and a lack of firefighting equipment at the schools have frequently impeded rescue efforts.

In March of this year, a police report stated that there had been at least 18 school fires in the preceding three months.