In a tragic incident that has shocked Kampala, four girls aged between nine and eleven died after eating oranges shared by a classmate at Ta’aliim Primary School and Quran Memorisation Centre. Three of the children passed away at home, while the fourth succumbed to her injuries in a hospital after emergency treatment.
According to the school, eight pupils consumed the oranges. Five of them, including the four who later died, began vomiting shortly after eating. The fifth child remains hospitalized and is being monitored closely.
Police have taken the head teacher into custody to assist with the investigation. The school has been sealed off as a crime scene while post‑mortem examinations are underway to determine the exact cause of death.
A police spokesperson told local media that detectives would travel to the village where the oranges were sourced. The investigation is focused on whether the fruit was contaminated or deliberately poisoned.
Parents of the victims have shared videos of their children’s final moments, expressing grief and frustration over what they say is a lack of timely information from the school. The police have offered condolences to the bereaved families and promised further updates as the inquiry progresses.
This tragedy comes amid growing concerns about health and safety in Ugandan schools. Previous incidents involving contaminated food have left pupils hospitalized with symptoms such as stomach pain, vomiting and breathing difficulties. The incident has reignited calls for stricter monitoring of school feeding programs, improved hygiene standards, and safer learning environments for children.
Source: BBC World
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Editorial note: This is an original news report prepared from the attributed source material with AI assistance. It is not a reproduction or translation of the original article.
