Four young schoolgirls have died and another child is fighting for her life after consuming oranges at Ta-Aliim Primary School and Quran Memorisation Centre in Kisaasi, Kampala. The incident occurred on November 10, 2026, in Kikulu Zone, Kikaaya Parish, Kawempe Division. The deceased were identified as Nakitende Mariam, 11, Kiruta Rwahim, 11, Nasuna Nusufa, 11, and Nabeta Failuzi, nine. The school has become a crime scene, with detectives questioning staff and pupils.
According to police, preliminary investigations indicate that the fatalities occurred at approximately 2:00pm on November 10. Three girls died after being sent home with symptoms, while Nabeta died at Kasangati Hospital, where she had been taken for treatment. The police have confirmed the deaths and are investigating the cause of the incident. Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson SP Racheal Kawala stated that the police are working to establish the cause of the deaths.
The investigation has centered on a bag of oranges allegedly shared among pupils before they began vomiting and collapsing. Forensic officers recovered orange peels from the school premises and took them for laboratory examination. The police are pursuing the possibility that the fruit could have been contaminated. However, they have not established how many children consumed the oranges or whether another source could have caused the illnesses.
The headteacher of Ta-Aliim Primary School and Quran Memorisation Centre, Muzahim Ssuuna, has been arrested by police. They want to establish how the incident happened, what school administrators knew, and how the affected pupils were handled. The arrest has added another layer of scrutiny to the unfolding tragedy. The police are questioning Ssuuna as part of their investigation.
The families of the victims have gathered at Mulago City Mortuary as they await postmortem examinations. The police have classified the matter as suspected murder by poisoning, but the precise cause of death remains unconfirmed. Toxicology tests and postmortem examinations will be crucial in determining whether the children were deliberately poisoned or affected by another medical cause.
Parents are seeking answers to several questions, including who brought the oranges, where they came from, and whether they were contaminated before reaching the school. The investigation must also establish whether school officials followed appropriate emergency procedures once pupils started falling sick. The police are working to establish the facts surrounding the incident.
The incident has raised concerns among parents and the community. One grieving father, Hassan Magumba, whose 11-year-old daughter was among the victims, reported that his child was brought home unwell before she was pronounced dead at a nearby clinic. Another pupil was reportedly in critical condition as investigations continued. The police are continuing their investigation into the incident.
Key points
- The police are investigating the possibility that the oranges consumed by the pupils were contaminated.
- The headteacher of the school has been arrested as part of the investigation.
- The cause of death of the four girls remains unconfirmed pending toxicology tests and postmortem examinations.
