Lightning strike kills two sugarcane cutters, injures two
Jinja district internal security officer (DISO) Andrew Kanywanyi confirmed that the incident occurred at about 2:00 pm on Thursday (October 29), killing Abdu Muwereza, 21, and Hassan Mubiru, 36.
Lightning strike kills two sugarcane cutters, injures two
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Two sugarcane cutters have been killed and two others injured by lightning at Kamila cell, Namagera ward, Namagera town council in Jinja district.
Jinja district internal security officer (DISO) Andrew Kanywanyi confirmed that the incident occurred at about 2:00 pm on Thursday (October 29), killing Abdu Muwereza, 21, and Hassan Mubiru, 36.
Kanywanyi said Muwereza was a resident of Nakabale village, Wansimba parish, in Butagaya subcounty, while Mubiru lived in Namagerea cell, Namagera ward, in Jinja district.
The injured, identified by Jinja resident district commissioner (RDC) Ahmed Kateregga as Issa Gesa, 19, and Ronald Wandali, 18, were rushed to Buwenge General Hospital in Jinja district.
Locals crowded at the Buwenge General Hospital, where the lightning survivors were rushed for treatment on Thursday. (Photo by Jackie Nambogga)
Kanywanyi said the four were sugarcane cutters working at the Kamila sugarcane weighbridge, commonly known as Kuminzani, in Namagera town council.
He attributed the incident to a downpour that lasted about an hour and was accompanied by lightning and hailstorms.
According to Kateregga, the four had sought shelter under a tree when they were struck by lightning.
Joseph Ikoona, the Jinja District Local Government vice-chairperson and area councillor for Namagera town council, said the bodies had been taken to Buwenge Health Centre IV for post-mortem examinations before being transported to their respective ancestral homes for burial arrangements.
At 5:40 pm, Kanywanyi, who was at Buwenge General Hospital with Katerega, said the injured were responding well to treatment and were out of danger.
“We want to thank our medical team for working tirelessly and ensuring that they saved the lives of the survivors who are progressing well,” the DISO stated.
Kanywanyi warned the public against standing under trees during rainfall or touching water, advising people to remain indoors instead.
John Musoke, a plumber, said lightning could travel through pipes and urged his colleagues to keep away from such materials during storms.
He also advised people to spread out rather than remain in groups.
“Assuming those people were scattered, there would be chances of some not being struck by lightning,” Musoke said.