Over 100 pupils of a school in Mityana District, Uganda, have been hospitalised after suffering from mysterious food poisoning.

Police say the pupils of Golden Learning Nursery and Primary School in Namungo Central village fell ill immediately after being served posho (ugali) and beans for lunch on Wednesday, September 27.

“The incident… involved pupils experiencing symptoms such as stomach ache, headache, and vomiting immediately after being served Posho and beans for lunch at [2 pm],” Kawala Racheal, the regional police spokesperson, says.

The learners were rushed to various health facilities, including Namungo Health Center III and MUKJ Medical Clinic.

Two cooks arrested

“The scene of crime has been visited by our detectives and documented, with statements recorded from victims,” Kawala added.

Two suspects, identified as Kule Alfred and Mumbere Edger, both school cooks, have been arrested to aid with the ongoing investigations.

They are currently detained at Mityana Central Police Station.

Food samples from the school have since been collected for forensic analysis to ascertain the cause of the poisoning.

Consequently, the Ministry of Education has sealed off the institution pending further guidance.

The school has a total of 350 pupils, with most of the 100 affected students discharged by evening, leaving about 50 under medical monitoring but in stable conditions.

No fatalities have been reported at this time.