By Eye Media Uganda | Luuka | August 15, 2026
Fresh details have emerged about Rebecca Tibenda, the 37-year-old woman detained over the alleged poisoning of 26 pupils in Luuka District.
Tibenda, a resident of Buyoola Village in Nawampiti Sub-county, was arrested following an incident in which pupils reportedly fell ill after eating white ants allegedly carried to school by her six-year-old child.
According to Buyoola Village LC1 Chairperson Muhammad Mwiidu, Tibenda has lived in the village for about five months.
She reportedly moved to Buyoola after separating from her husband, Bashir Gwebatala, a resident of Buwanda Village in Nawampiti Sub-county. The couple had reportedly lived together for about a year before separating following disagreements.
Mwiidu described Tibenda as a woman who has maintained good relations with her neighbours. He said village authorities were not aware of any previous criminal record involving her.
Tibenda earns a living as a fruit vendor, mainly selling sweet bananas on streets and in neighbouring trading centres and schools.
She has two children, aged eight and six. Her six-year-old child is alleged to have taken the white ants to school and shared them with other pupils.
The circumstances surrounding how the white ants became contaminated remain subject to police investigations, and the allegations against Tibenda have not yet been proven in court.
She remains in police custody pending investigations into the incident.
