Police in Luuka District have arrested a 37-year-old woman after 26 pupils at Buwanda Primary School fell ill shortly after eating white ants allegedly brought to the school by her daughter.
The suspect, a resident of Buyoola Village in Nawampiti Sub-county, is being held at Nawampiti Police Station as police investigate the source and safety of the insects consumed by the pupils.
The incident occurred on Friday, August 7, 2026, after a Primary Three pupil, identified as Namukose Peace, reportedly brought the white ants to school and shared them with classmates.
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According to preliminary accounts, a teacher first noticed one pupil complaining of severe stomach pain during class. Within a short time, several other pupils reportedly developed similar symptoms, prompting the school administration to intervene.
The affected pupils were initially taken to Ikonia Health Centre III before being referred to Kiyunga Health Centre IV for further treatment and monitoring.
Health workers said all 26 pupils received medical attention and survived.
Police said investigations are ongoing to establish whether the white ants were contaminated or contained any toxic substances that could have caused the illness.
Busoga North Region Police spokesperson, SP Samson Lubega, cautioned against concluding that the pupils had been poisoned before investigations and medical assessments are completed.
"At this stage, it would be premature to conclude that the pupils were poisoned, as both police investigations and medical assessments are still ongoing," Lubega said.
Police said the woman was arrested because the affected pupil reportedly told authorities that the white ants had been given to one of the kids by her mother.
However, Tibenda has denied poisoning the insects, saying members of her household had also eaten them without falling ill.
"My children also ate the same white ants and they are fine. I don't know what happened to the other children at school," Tibenda said.
Godfrey Matege, the NRM chairperson for Nawampiti Sub-county, called for a thorough investigation to establish what caused the pupils' illness.
"We ask police to make thorough investigations to find out the truth of the matter so that justice is served," Matege said.
Matege also urged parents to be vigilant about food carried by children to school and called for greater sensitisation on food safety in the area.
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Police are expected to establish where the white ants came from, assess their condition and determine whether they were contaminated before being consumed.
No charges relating to poisoning had been established against the suspect at the time of reporting.
