Woman Arrested as Luuka School Grapples with Suspected Food Poisoning Outbreak

Twenty-six pupils from Buwanda Primary School in Luuka District have been hospitalized after reportedly suffering from food poisoning. The students, primarily from Primary One and Three, experienced intense stomach pains after consuming a meal brought from home.

Police have arrested a 37-year-old woman, a resident of Buyoola Village, Nawampiti Sub-county, in connection with the incident. She is currently detained at Nawampiti Police Station as investigations commence.

According to Busoga North Spokesperson, Mr. Samson Lubega, the incident occurred when one pupil brought a meal, described as “white ant meal,” from home and shared it with classmates. Shortly after, the children began experiencing severe abdominal discomfort and were initially taken to Ikonia Health Centre III, before being transferred to Kiyunga Health Centre IV for further treatment.

“We are collecting food samples and medical reports to help establish whether the pupils were affected by poison,” Mr. Lubega stated. He reassured the public that the children are currently in stable condition and that a comprehensive report will be prepared to detail the circumstances surrounding the event.

Local leaders, including NRM chairman for Nawampiti Sub-county, Mr. Godfrey Matege, have called for a thorough investigation to uncover the facts and ensure justice. They are also urging parents to exercise greater vigilance regarding the food items their children bring to school and to promote safe food handling practices within the community.

District education and health officials have visited the school to provide counseling to the affected pupils and to engage parents on critical issues of child protection and food safety. Local leaders have reinforced the message, advising parents to discourage children from bringing unpackaged or uninspected food items to school.