The State minister for higher education John Chrysostom Muyingo says the government will offer support towards Nakanyonyi Secondary School in Mukono, following the admission of over 150 students with a food poisoning attack.
Munyingo paid the school a visit on Monday morning where he interfaced with the school administration and spoke to some of the learners. The Minister also toured the premises including the kitchen area where he also interacted with some of the cooks on duty about what happened could have gone wrong.
He stated to journalists that the government is fully committed to assisting the school recover from the shock in any way possible.
“On behalf of government, I want to assure you that everything possible will be done to settle the school back to normal and ensure we get to the root cause of what happened. The government didn’t plan for this we can always adjust our budget. Am going for a cabinet sitting and we shall share what I discussed with the Head teacher and am sure gov’t will come in,” he said
He added: My presence here is a sign to show gov’ts presence and interest in this matter. At least I am going away with a report that the children are out of danger and investigations are ongoing”
According to the school headteacher Amos Balongo, no fatalities were recorded and most students have been discharged, except for three others who are receiving treatment at Mukono General hospital. He however says the administration is overwhelmed with heavy hospital bills to a tune of over 6 million shillings accruing from the admission of learners.
“We are struggling with a huge debt to settle hospital bills since the admission of students. We are also trying to provide counseling services to the students through the religious angle so that they can return to normal learning. ” he says
On Thursday last week, several students were rushed to various hospitals after developing complications.
The learners who had earlier that day eaten posho and beans for lunch started convulsing, vomiting, and experiencing unusual pain in the stomach prompting the school authorities to call in ambulances that dispersed the affected learners to various health facilities including Vision for Africa Hospital, St Francis Hospital, Nagalama hospital, Mukono CoU Hospital, Mukono General Hospital, Kayunga Hospital, and Kawolo Hospital.
Nakanyonyi Senior Secondary School is a catholic founded and Government Aided Secondary School in Nakanyonyi, Mukono District.