18 struck dead by Lightning in Kiryandongo

Dozens of the dead were taken to the Kiryandongo Hospital morgue, three miles away from the primary school. Grief and emotion engulfed the hospital as many thronged to indentify the dead. Mr Patrick Kawamara, the Kiryandongo Resident District Commissioner, told this newspaper that doctors had confirmed 18 dead, while 36 had been admitted nursing serious injuries. This brings the death toll from lightning strikes in the past one week to 28.

Those killed yesterday included 14 girls, two boys and a female student-teacher. “Majority of those being treated are in a coma and cannot talk,” said Mr Edward Kirya, the district education officer. Officials admitted it was difficult to ascertain just how many people had died. “All the children are scattered,” said Sister Norah Akello, a nurse at Kiryandongo Hospital. “It is not easy to count how many are dead.”

Police publicist Judith Nabakooba said last evening that the force had dispatched six ambulances to bring the injured to Masindi and Mulago hospitals. Police was called in to calm matters following a scuffle that ensued as crestfallen parents moved to claim their dead children.

Meanwhile, a total of 21 other pupils at Paidha Role Model Primary School in Zombo District received burns after they were struck by a bolt of lightning. Witnesses said several pupils writhed on floors in their classrooms holding their ears and eyes. The injured pupils were rushed to Nyapea Hospital, some 10km away from the school.

Cleric hit
“I just heard an irritating sound and I got scared that it could have struck something. Moments later, I just heard pupils wailing in pain. They lay unconscious on the ground,” said Christopher Onyai, an eye witness.

Six people in Yumbe District were similar victims while a cleric in Hoima is admitted to a private clinic partially paralysed after he was struck on Monday. In the last one week, there have been several incidents of lightning strikes which have left several people dead and untold damage.

In Hoima, the Rev. James Mbabazi, 45, an associate Vicar at Hoima All Saints town church (COU) is admitted to a private clinic in Hoima town after being struck by lightning at about 10.20pm on Monday during a downpour at his home in Kalyabuhiire village in Hoima municipality.

Mbabazi, who was shivering, told the Daily Monitor at the Tropical Clinic that the incident left him with burns on the right hand and feet. He said his right hand side of his body is paralyzed. It has been a bitter pill to swallow for many farmers whose prayers for the return of rains following a long dry spell have brought tragedy and suffering.

Lawmakers ordered the government to come up with a comprehensive statement on the crisis. “I don’t know which minister is in charge of the lightning but let the Government come with a statement to inform the country on what is going on and how we can manage it,” said Speaker Rebecca Kadaga.

The matter was raised by Kyenjojo Woman MP Lyndah Timbigamba who reported that an unspecified number of cows in her district had been killed by lightning. Scientists believe that magnetic force generated by lightning provides an electric jolt so powerful that it can stop someone’s heart. Traditional advice for people caught in a thunderstorm is to avoid sheltering under trees as they act as lightning conductors and to make sure you are not the tallest object on the ground.

Government to explain
“Most of the school buildings need electro lights to avert such deaths and injuries,” said Terego MP Kassiano Wadri. Government Chief Whip John Nasasira told MPs both the Ministers of Environment and Housing would table a statement before the House as MPs demanded that lightning conductors be fixed atop all public building including schools to avert future disasters. Efforts to obtain a comment from experts at the Meteorology Department were futile. The department’s publicist declined to receive repeated calls.

Additional Reporting by Sheila Naturinda, Patrick Okaba, Felix Warom, Francis Mugerwa and David Ayebale