Four Kisasi pupils die in suspected poisoning

What the report says

Police in Kampala are investigating the deaths of four pupils from Ta-Alim Primary School and Quran Memorisation Centre in Kisasi after they fell ill with stomach-related symptoms, with preliminary findings pointing to suspected poisoning, according to The Observer. The pupils identified by police were Mariam Nakitende, Rwahim Kiruta, Nasuna Nusufa and Nabeta Failuzi, all aged between nine and 11.

The newspaper reported that investigators believe the children may have eaten oranges shared among pupils, although that account has not been independently verified. Police said postmortem examinations were being carried out at Mulago City Mortuary to determine the exact cause of death, and detectives were expected to visit the area where the fruit reportedly came from. The school has been shut, and police have cordoned off the premises as a crime scene.

The report says the first signs of illness appeared overnight, after one pupil complained of stomach problems and received paracetamol. Other children later developed similar symptoms, prompting the school to send some pupils to a nearby clinic and release others to their parents. Several parents described taking their children to different clinics and hospitals, but the pupils’ conditions worsened and they later died.

The case has raised questions about what the children ate and how quickly the school responded. The Observer cited local leaders and parents who said they want a thorough investigation, while police said inquiries were ongoing.