Police at Kira Road Division in Kampala, Uganda, are investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths of four pupils of Ta’aliim Primary School and Quran Memorisation Centre.

Preliminary investigations indicate that on Tuesday, November 10 at around 2 pm (local time), four female pupils reportedly died under circumstances suspected to be related to poisoning.

Three of the children reportedly died at their respective homes, while the fourth passed away at Kasangati Hospital.

The deceased have been identified as: 11-year-old Nakitende Mariam, a Primary Four pupil; 11-year-old Kiruta Rwahim, a Primary Five pupil; 11-year-old Nasuna Nusufa, a Primary Four pupil; and 9-year-old Nabeta Failuzi, a Primary Three pupil, who passed away at Kasangati Hospital.

According to SP Kawala Racheal, the Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson, the school head teacher, Muzahim Ssuuna, has been arrested to assist with the ongoing investigations.

Postmortem examinations will be conducted to establish the exact cause of death and provide further medical findings.

Police investigations are ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the tragic deaths and determine whether poisoning was involved.

“Police investigations are actively ongoing to establish the exact circumstances surrounding these tragic deaths and determine whether poisoning was involved. Further updates will be provided as more actionable information becomes available,” SP Kawala stated. “We extend their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, relatives and the school community during this difficult time.”

Former Kawempe South MP Latif Ssebaggala, speaking at the school which police have cordoned off as a crime scene, insinuated about the details regarding the potential source of contamination.

“We have been told that one of the pupils here went back home for a short break during the Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) and returned to school with some oranges. She shared the oranges with pupils in Primary Two, Three, and Four. When the school administration realized yesterday that the pupils had developed complications, they sent them home-only to be told this morning that four of the kids have died and one is critically ill in the hospital. It is suspected that the fruits were shared among eight pupils,” Ssebaggala told journalists at the scene.