The Police in Naggalama Division have arrested a businessman in connection with the suspected poisoning that resulted in to the death of two school children at Green Primary School at Makukuba cell in Nakifuma-Naggalama Town Council in Mukono district.
Without divulging details for fear of jeopardising the investigations, the Police said the suspect is currently detained at Naggalama Police Station, pending investigations.
Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson Patrick Onyango disclosed that the two pupils died on Thursday, October 12, 2023 and were part of the 19 pupils who were rushed to different hospitals for treatment after eating on the suspected poisoned food.
The dead children included a Primary Seven pupil, Andrew Kakumba, 13, a son of Jackson Kakumba and Victor Bongole, 10, (Primary One), son of Vincent Bongole, a resident of Luvule village, in Kyampisi sub-county.
The suspect was apprehended on Saturday morning from his stall, where he operates a chicken business in Nakufuma trading centre.
“We suspect the chicken he sold to Norah Naguija, a teacher at the said school, could have been contaminated with some poisonous substances. That is why we arrested him to help us with the investigations,” one of the Investigators revealed.
Reports indicate that Naguija, a teacher at the school, cooked the chicken and carried the food (chicken, rice and sweet potatoes) from her home, which she served to her three children in the boarding section.
Reports further indicate that Naggujja’s children also shared the food packs with their friends at the same school; both in boarding and day sections.
After eating the said food, children started complaining of abdominal pain, headache, dizziness and developed diarrhoea.
“Our detectives from Kampala Metropolitan East and others from Naggalama division have reached out to all the affected children, examined the scene of crime and also recorded statements from several eyewitnesses as we continue with the investigations,” Onyango said.
The school director, David Ssenfuma, said 24 victims had been admitted, but on Saturday, October 14, the majority were discharged and only three remained hospitalised.
The Police is yet to investigate whether the said poisoning could be linked to school ownership wrangles.
In July, this year, over 200 students of Nakanyonyi Senior Secondary School in Nakifuma-Naggalama TC in Mukono district were admitted after they reportedly ate suspected poisoned food. Fortunately, none of the students died.