Police in Kassanda District have arrested a school canteen attendant accused of causing the death of a Senior Three student after allegedly throwing a stone during a confrontation.
The suspect, identified as Resty Namutebi, is a canteen attendant at Bright Way Secondary School in Kyamasansa Village, Kassanda Sub-county.
She is accused of throwing a stone that struck Ronald Ssemiyingo, 20, on Monday, October 5. Police said the incident was reported at Kassanda Police Station on Wednesday, October 7, prompting an investigation that led to Namutebi’s arrest.
Lameck Kigozi, the Wamala Regional Police spokesperson, said Namutebi had been involved in a confrontation with another student when she picked up a stone and threw it at the student. However, Kigozi said the stone missed its intended target and struck Ssemiyingo, who sustained serious injuries to the head.
He was reportedly given first aid at the school before being rushed to Red Rose Hospital for further treatment. However, Kigozi said the student was pronounced dead upon arrival.
He said police had opened a murder inquiry and arrested Namutebi as investigations continued to establish the circumstances surrounding the student’s death. Kigozi said further investigations would determine how the confrontation escalated and the circumstances that led to Ssemiyingo being struck.
The incident comes amid renewed concerns over violence against learners in Ugandan schools. In June 2026, a 16-year-old Senior Four student, Nicholas Nakibinge, was allegedly beaten to death by a teacher at New Life Secondary School in Luweero Town Council.
The main suspect, Abraham Mukalazi, a Physics teacher at the school, remains at large, according to police. Under Section 106A of the Children (Amendment) Act, 2016, corporal punishment in educational institutions is prohibited, requiring schools to use child-friendly disciplinary measures.
The Ministry of Education and Sports has also issued guidelines promoting positive discipline in schools. Despite these safeguards, cases involving learners being caned, beaten or subjected to other forms of physical punishment continue to be reported, raising concerns about compliance with the law and the protection of children in schools-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
