Police deployed at Ta-aliim Primary School and Quran Memorisation Centre in Kawempe Division

By Nasser Kayanja

The Kawempe Division Security Committee is preparing to convene a meeting to reconsider the indefinite closure of Ta-Liim Primary School and Memorization Center following the deaths of four pupils who allegedly consumed suspected poisonous oranges.

The Deputy Resident City Commissioner (RCC) for Kawempe Division, Luke Kagenyi, says maintaining the closure could disrupt pupils’ academic progress, particularly because the current term is the final and promotional term of the school year.

Kagenyi said the committee would meet to review the circumstances surrounding the closure and determine the way forward for the institution.

He noted that prolonged closure could also financially affect parents who have already paid school fees for the first, second and third terms, while pupils risk losing valuable learning time and potentially repeating classes.

Four pupils died on Wednesday after allegedly eating oranges suspected to have been contaminated with poison at the school. Preliminary information indicates that the oranges were reportedly brought to school by a Primary Four pupil, who shared them with fellow learners.

Following the tragic incident, authorities ordered the immediate closure of the school as investigations commenced.

The school’s proprietor, Suuna Muzamiru, was arrested to assist with ongoing investigations into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

Authorities are continuing investigations to establish the source of the suspected poisonous oranges and determine what led to the tragedy.

The postmortem report is expected next week and is anticipated to provide further information regarding the cause of the pupils’ deaths.

Meanwhile, the proposed meeting by the Kawempe Division Security Committee is expected to determine whether the school can resume operations while investigations continue, taking into consideration the safety of learners and their academic future.