news 12 April 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Family Seeks Probe into How A-Level Student Drowned in Nearby University Pool
Relatives of Hayaan Kakooza, a new A-Level student at Standard High School Ndejje, are questioning how he vanished from the boarding school and ended up dead in Ndejje University's swimming pool. A postmortem confirmed drowning, but the family demands clarity on security lapses and access to the facility. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/family-demands-answers-over-student-s-death-in-university-swimming-pool-5420686
The family of Hayaan Kakooza, a recent A-Level enrollee at Standard High School Ndejje in Luwero District, is demanding a full investigation into his death after his body was found in a swimming pool at the adjacent Ndejje University.
Kakooza, who had just started studying Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and ICT following O-Levels at St. Damian Secondary School in Masindi, went missing on Easter Monday, April 6, 2026, around 6 PM. His absence came to light during the evening roll call.
His mother, Zula Kusiima, a teacher, received a confusing call from the school warden the next day asking about his return from holidays. As Muslims, the family noted he had no reason to leave for Easter. She rushed to Luwero but faced delays and vague responses, with no police reference provided initially.
Police later informed her that Kakooza’s body had been recovered from the university pool. A postmortem at Kampala City Mortuary on April 8 confirmed drowning as the cause.
Relatives are baffled by how a boarding student slipped away unnoticed from the school to reach the separate university facility. Kusiima emphasized her son disliked swimming and crowded spots, and he seemed fine in recent talks, including a light-hearted chat with his aunt Jessica Ajuna that evening.
His grandmother Zainabu Namusoke described him as disciplined and wondered about supervision failures. The family wants answers on his exit from school, companions, and pool access.
School headteacher Patrick Mukisa confirmed the missing report to Ndejje Police Station and noted enhanced security measures now in place. Police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma acknowledged the case but offered no details amid ongoing inquiries.
Kakooza was buried on April 11, 2026.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)