KAMPALA – Wakiso District Woman MP Hon. Betty Ethel Naluyima has appealed to the Ministry of Education and Sports to strengthen school food safety guidelines and improve first-aid services in learning institutions following the deaths of pupils at Ta’aliim Primary School and Quran Memorisation Centre in Kawempe Division.
Naluyima made the appeal while contributing to a parliamentary discussion on the tragedy, revealing that two of the affected children were from her area, particularly Gaya and Manyangwa, in Wakiso District.
Speaking in her capacity as Shadow Minister in charge of Gender, she called on government to take urgent measures to restore parents’ confidence in the safety of children entrusted to schools during the school term.
She urged the Ministry of Education to strengthen regulations governing food handling and safety in schools while ensuring that institutions across the country have adequate first-aid facilities and personnel capable of responding to medical emergencies.
Naluyima also called for a timely investigation report to establish what happened at the school, saying families and affected communities needed clear answers and reassurance that appropriate measures would be taken to prevent similar incidents.
She further appealed to government to ensure that the surviving child receives proper care and support while still in school, emphasising the need to protect the child’s welfare during the difficult period.
In response, Minister of State for Education and Sports Hon. Peter Ogwang conveyed condolences to the families of the deceased pupils and acknowledged the seriousness of the incident.
Ogwang informed Parliament that the Ministry of Education and Sports would conduct an independent investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, while also deploying inspectors to assess compliance with the required school safety standards.
He explained that Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) bears responsibility for ensuring compliance with school safety, sanitation and food-handling requirements within its jurisdiction, but maintained that the Ministry would independently examine the incident and ensure appropriate action.
The Minister pledged that the inspection exercise would establish whether the relevant standards had been observed and help guide measures to address any shortcomings identified.
The tragedy at Ta’aliim Primary School has renewed concerns about learner protection, food safety and emergency preparedness in educational institutions, with Naluyima’s appeal placing renewed emphasis on the need for stronger safeguards to protect children while at school.
Police investigations into the deaths were ongoing, with postmortem examinations expected to establish the exact cause of death.
