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By Spy Uganda
State Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development in charge of Children and Youth Affairs, Hon. Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, has called for a compassionate and amicable resolution in the case of the death of Standard High School Ndejje student, Hayaan Kakooza, who was found drowned in a swimming pool at Ndejje University.
The Minister yesterday convened a meeting bringing together Kakooza’s grieving parents, school administrators from Standard High School, and representatives from Ndejje University, alongside police officers and a private investigator. The engagement aimed at establishing clarity and seeking justice while easing rising tensions surrounding the tragic incident.
Kakooza, the son of Zula Kusiima from Masindi Municipality, was buried on Saturday, April 11, 2026, after his body was recovered from a swimming pool at Ndejje University. He was pursuing Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and ICT at Standard High School Ndejje.
According to earlier reports from the school, the student was discovered missing on April 6, 2026, during evening roll call. His disappearance triggered concern among his family, who later learned that his body had been retrieved from a university swimming pool several hours away from his school premises.
During the meeting, Minister Balaam extended condolences to the bereaved family and acknowledged their pain, while also questioning lapses in supervision by the school.
He said institutions entrusted with children have a duty of care that must be taken seriously, noting that the circumstances surrounding Kakooza’s disappearance raised serious concerns that required accountability.
However, police officers from Bombo Police Station informed the meeting that preliminary findings indicated the student escaped from the school alongside four other students to go swimming, despite having limited swimming ability. A postmortem conducted earlier confirmed drowning as the cause of death, and investigators ruled out allegations of foul play.
The private investigator and police further stated that available evidence pointed to accidental drowning, reinforcing the postmortem findings.
The pool attendant also gave testimony during the meeting, saying he was on duty at the time of the incident. He expressed regret, explaining that he was overwhelmed by a high number of clients and did not notice the student in distress. He said he deeply regretted not being able to intervene in time.
The discussions, which lasted close to an hour, were marked by emotional exchanges, with each party presenting its account of events and responsibilities.
Minister Balaam noted that his intervention was not judicial in nature but rather humanitarian, driven by public concern and the family’s search for answers, which had also gained attention on social media.
“My office is not a court. I intervened because I saw a grieving family seeking justice and crying out for answers. If both parties fail to agree, then i will advise them to proceed to court,” he said.
He urged all parties to de-escalate tensions and pursue a peaceful resolution grounded in compassion. He further called on the school to consider offering compensation to the bereaved family as a gesture of support, while encouraging the family to temper financial demands, noting that no amount of money could replace their loss.
Kakooza’s death has since raised broader questions about student safety, supervision in boarding schools, and access to restricted facilities such as university recreational areas.
, https://www.spyuganda.com/minister-balaam-mediates-in-standard-h-sch-drowning-case-seeks-compassionate-settlement/
