KAMPALA, Uganda – The death toll from a suspected poisoning incident at Ta’aliim Primary School and Quran Memorisation Centre in Kawempe Division has risen to five after another pupil died Thursday morning while receiving treatment in hospital.
The latest death comes two days after four female pupils from the same school died under mysterious circumstances, triggering a police investigation into what authorities suspect could be poisoning.
Following the tragedy, the Kawempe Resident City Commissioner (RCC), who represents the president in the area, ordered the closure of the school as investigations continue.
The school, located in Kikulu Zone, Kikaaya Parish, Kawempe Division, Kampala, has been at the center of growing concern among parents and residents seeking answers about the sudden deaths.
Police initially confirmed that four girls, aged between 9 and 11, died Tuesday, Nov. 10, with three reportedly passing away at their respective homes and another at Kasangati Hospital.
The deceased were identified as Mariam Nakitende, 11, a Primary Four pupil; Rwahim Kiruta, 11, a Primary Five pupil; Nusufa Nasuna, 11, also in Primary Four; and Failuzi Nabeta, 9, a Primary Three pupil.
The identity of the fifth pupil, who reportedly died Thursday morning after being admitted to hospital, was not immediately available.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Racheal Kawala said detectives from Kira Road Police Division had launched investigations to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
In a statement issued Wednesday, Kawala said preliminary findings indicated that the four initially reported deaths occurred around 2 p.m. Tuesday, although the exact cause remained unknown.
Police forensic teams subsequently visited the school and recovered orange peels believed to be connected to the incident.
According to accounts from local leaders, one of the pupils reportedly brought oranges to school and shared them with other children before several learners developed serious health complications.
Former Kawempe Mayor Latiff Ssebaggala said investigators were examining reports that at least eight pupils had eaten the oranges. He said the recovered peels had been taken for forensic examination to establish whether they contained harmful substances.
Some affected children reportedly experienced severe vomiting and stomach complications before their conditions deteriorated.
However, authorities have not established whether the oranges were responsible for the deaths, and the suspected poisoning remains under investigation.
The school’s headteacher, identified in media reports as Muzahim Ssuuna, was arrested to assist police with investigations into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. His arrest does not establish criminal responsibility.
Police have also been examining accounts from parents and school administrators to reconstruct the events preceding the pupils’ illnesses.
Postmortem examinations and forensic tests are expected to help investigators determine the medical cause of death and establish whether the children were exposed to a poisonous substance.
The closure of the school comes amid mounting anxiety among parents, with families demanding a thorough investigation into what happened and whether the tragedy could have been prevented.
Police have extended condolences to the bereaved families and the school community, promising to provide further information as investigations progress.
The deaths have raised serious questions about pupil safety, emergency medical response and the handling of suspected poisoning incidents in schools.
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