2 pupils dead, several hospitalised in Mukono school food poisoning

Mukono, (UG): Police in Mukono District on Friday registered a case of suspected food poisoning which left two pupils dead and several others admitted at different health facilities in the central Ugandan district.

The incident occurred on Thursday, October 12, 2023, at Green Primary School located in Makukuba Village, Nakifuma-Naggalama Town Council in Mukono District.

The victims were identified as Andrew Kakumba, 13, a P7 candidate who died on Friday morning and 10-year-old P1 pupil Victor Bongole who died the previous day.

According to preliminary investigations, it is alleged that on October 11, Norah Nagujja, a teacher at the school, which operates both primary and nursery sections, took cooked food (chicken, sweet potatoes and rice) she had prepared from home to her three children in the boarding section.

“Nagujja served her children with food and they later shared part of it with their friends (learners). But during Wednesday night, the children who had eaten the food started complaining of abdominal pain, diarrhea, headache and dizziness,” said Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson, Mr Patrick Oyango.

According to Mr Onyango, in total, about 21 pupils ate the food in mention, and many of these are currently admitted at St Francis Hospital in Naggalama, Mukono, Kayunga Regional Referral Hospital and other health facilities in the area.

Additionally, the two bodies have since been conveyed to the city mortuary at Mulago in Kampala City for postmortem.

Speaking to this publication on Friday afternoon, Dr Julius Musinguzi, the Director St Francis Hospital Naggalama revealed the pupils admitted are showcasing three categories of victims with some having mild diarrhea.

“Those on admission were five and six under daycare treatment in addition to 8 under our patient treatment,” Dr Musinguzi said.

Green School Director, Mr David Ssefuma emphasized that the killer food was not prepared by the school and asked for cooperation with the authorities to resolve the matter.

“We were shocked on receiving such sad news and I ask police to thoroughly investigate this matter and establish the truth,” he said.

This is the second case in a space of three months that schools have been hit with ‘food poisoning’ cases.

Last month, Mityana Police held two male chefs at Golden Learning Centre Nursery and Primary School in Namungo Central Village, Namungo Sub County after about 100 pupils were hospitalized after suffering suspected food poisoning.

According to preliminary police findings, it was discovered that the affected pupils presented symptoms such as stomach ache, headache and later vomiting after eating a meal of posho and beans on the fateful day.

Similarly, In July 2023, at least 200 students of Nakanyonyi SS in the boarding section were admitted to different health facilities after eating what was suspected to be poisoned food for supper.