By Karim Were
A tragic incident in Wakiso District has reignited concerns over safety standards in early childhood education centres, after a four-year-old boy died from severe burns sustained at a daycare facility.
The child, who was attending middle class at Portless Kindergarten and Daycare in Kawanda, reportedly fell into a saucepan of hot tea on April 10, 2026. He suffered critical injuries to the lower part of his body and was rushed to a medical facility in Kampala, where he died five days later.
Preliminary police findings suggest the accident may have been preventable. Investigators revealed that no teacher was present in the classroom at the time, as staff had reportedly moved to another room, leaving the children unsupervised.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Rachael Kawala confirmed that the school’s director has been arrested as inquiries continue into possible negligence. Authorities are treating the case as suspected neglect, pointing to lapses in supervision and unsafe handling of hot liquids within a classroom environment.
The incident has drawn attention to broader systemic gaps in daycare safety practices, particularly in the management of hazardous items like hot food and drinks around young children. Police have since warned school operators to reassess their safety protocols and ensure constant supervision of pupils.
In response, fire and rescue teams are expected to begin inspections of school kitchen facilities and caregiving environments to enforce compliance with safety standards.
As investigations continue, authorities say the case should serve as a wake-up call for daycare providers to prioritise child protection measures and prevent avoidable tragedies in
learning spaces.
