MUKONO, UGANDA: More than 200 students at Nakanyonyi Senior Secondary School in Mukono District are in critical after an alleged incident of suspected food poisoning at the school.
According to the Kampala Metropolitan deputy police spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire, the students started complaining of stomach pain after having supper on Wednesday night, and by Thursday afternoon, several of them appeared to be in critical condition due to increased stomach pains.
“After having break tea today(Thursday), the signs increased. They have exhibited consistent stomach pains,” Owoyesigyire said when contacted for an update on the incident.
A teacher who preferred not to be named in this story said during prep time on Wednesday evening, “Some of them developed stomachaches while others developed diarrhoea. We gave them some tablets but the situation worsened today (Thursday) morning. Some became unconscious.”
Upon learning of the incident, school administrators immediately called for ambulances and affected students were rushed to Naggalama Hospital and Mukono General Hospital for medical attention with no deaths reported at the moment.
“No deaths confirmed despite social media claims. Some students have already been discharged. We shall provide updates in due course,” Owoyesigyire noted.
Meanwhile, he said samples of the food consumed by students have been taken to Government Analytical Laboratory in Kampala for testing as investigations continue.
“Samples have been picked from the victims and taken to the Government Analytical Laboratory in Wandegeya for examination to ascertain the exact cause of the problem as investigations into the matter continue,” he said.
By Thursday evening, district authorities including the deputy RDC, the LC5 chairperson, Internal Security Organisation operatives and the school management were locked in a security meeting to establish what happened.
Reports DailyExpress could not confirm indicate that the poisoning could have been engineered through the water in the school tank which is used to prepare food for the students.
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