Three students of Nakanyonyi secondary school in Mukono district have been detained at St. Francis Hospital after failing to pay their medical bills.

The students were part of 150 learners who had been admitted to the facility, among others, following their alleged food poisoning on July 13, 2023.

Amos Balongo, the school head teacher, said the students were detained after they failed to pay the medical bills amounting to Ugx800,000.

“St. Francis Hospital has detained three students after they failed to pay an initial bill of Shs800,000, which was reduced to Shs500,000 following negotiations,” said Balongo.

Balongo said another group of 48 students were recently discharged on credit from Vision for Africa Hospital with a pending medical bill of Ugx6.2 million.

He adds that Naggalama Hospital, where some 98 students were treated, will also soon present the medical bill, adding that their attempt to seek funding support from the area authority has since failed.

The school authority at Nakanyonyi Senior Secondary School has since appealed to the government, seeking an immediate financial bailout to pay for the bills.