27 pupils of King's Kid Nursery and Primary School in Soroti district were rushed to Soroti hospital on Friday over suspected food poisoning. They were rushed to hospital after complaints of stomachaches, vomiting, diarrhea and headaches.
Two P.5 pupils told URN that they developed complications after being served their Thursday supper of beans and posho. James Peter Odeke, the head teacher of the school, says the pupils received emergency treatment from the school nurse and were rushed to Soroti hospital when their condition worsened.
He says some of the pupils were discharged and went back to their parents' homes. Odeke dismisses claims of food poisoning, saying the affected pupils could have been suffering from malaria. However, none of the pupils tested positive for malaria according to reports from Soroti hospital.
Joseph Echaku, the school director, also denies allegations that the pupils could have eaten food laced with poison. According to Echaku, teachers ate the same food yet none of them has come out to complain of any sickness.
One of the nurses who attended to the children says, they suspect food poisoning. Robert Adiam, the former speaker Amuria district, whose child was among those affected, demanded for an apology and detailed report from the school administration.
He dismisses claims by the administration that the children could have developed the complications due to malaria, saying the malaria tests conducted on his son and nephew came back negative. He suspects that the children developed complications after eating contaminated food resulting from poor hygiene and storage.
Dr. Fred Kirya, one of senior doctors at Soroti hospital, says they will only issue a medical report after receiving consent from the patients. Juma Hassan Nyene, the East Kyoga Police spokesperson says they had not yet got any report from the school about the incident but picked interest in the matter out of public concern.
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