UNICEF Urges Swift Measures After Deadly Incidents at Kampala and Apac Schools

Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 1240 EAT on Wednesday 8 April 2026

In the quiet suburb of Ggaba and the classrooms of Apac, the sanctuary of the schoolhouse has been shattered.

For parents across Uganda, the past few days have transformed spaces of learning and growth into sites of unimaginable grief, leaving the nation to confront a sudden, localized wave of violence targeting its most vulnerable citizens.

The human toll is stark. At the Ggaba Early Childhood Development Centre in Kampala, four toddlers — children just beginning to explore the world — were brutally killed. Farther north, in Apac district, a violent attack at Apac Seed Secondary School left seven students injured, shattering the peace of the campus.

These incidents are not isolated; they strike at the core Ugandan belief that schools should be safe havens. Dr. Robin Nandy, UNICEF’s representative in Uganda, expressed a sentiment echoed across the country: one of profound shock and deep sorrow.

Speaking on behalf of the organization, Dr. Robin Nandy extended heartfelt condolences to the families in Ggaba, who have been forced to bury their young children, and offered support to those in Apac, where students are now grappling with both physical injuries and emotional trauma.

“Every child in Uganda has the fundamental right to learn, play, and grow in environments that are safe and protective,” Nandy said in an official statement, emphasising that schools and early childhood centres must remain sanctuaries where children thrive, not places overshadowed by fear.

The recent wave of violence has not only devastated individual families but has also shaken the collective sense of security that underpins Ugandan communities.
“We condemn these attacks on innocent children, which have undermined our shared sense of safety and demand urgent action. Schools must never be targets of violence,” he added.

The call for urgent action has now become central to the national conversation. In the immediate aftermath of the attacks, UNICEF is moving quickly to provide psychosocial support for children and families grappling with trauma, navigating a world that feels far less safe than it did just a week ago.

“UNICEF stands ready to support the Government of Uganda, local authorities, and affected communities in providing immediate psychosocial assistance to traumatized children, families, and school communities,” said Dr. Robin Nandy. “We are also committed to working with all partners, including the Ministry of Education and Sports, to urgently strengthen child protection systems and ensure that every child in Uganda can access education safely and with dignity.”

But long-term recovery requires more than crisis management. UNICEF is renewing its commitment to collaborate with the Ministry of Education and Sports to overhaul and reinforce child protection mechanisms across the country.

The objective is clear, though formidable: to guarantee that every child — from toddlers in Kampala to teenagers in Apac — can pursue their education in a safe, dignified environment. As the nation mourns, the focus is on ensuring that such tragedies never occur again.

-Observer

Invest or Donate towards HICGI New Agency Global Media Establishment – Watch video here