Police to exhume waragi victims
Mar 01, 2007
THE Police are to exhume the bodies of people who died after drinking crude waragi. This is part of its investigations into the death of over 40 people who are suspected to have been poisoned by the locally-brewed drink.
By Chris Kiwawulo
THE Police are to exhume the bodies of people who died after drinking crude waragi. This is part of its investigations into the death of over 40 people who are suspected to have been poisoned by the locally-brewed drink.
Police spokesperson Edward Ochom revealed that the investigations, which kicked off yesterday, will involve carrying out a postmortem on the victims.
Ochom said the results of the tests from the Government chemist would also help in their investigations.
“We shall work hand in hand with Ministry of Health officials,†he stated.
“Following the deaths, the health ministry took some samples and the results of their analysis will be out at 11:00am on Friday,†Dr. Sam Okware, the Commissioner for Health Services, revealed.
Okware said health minister Dr. Stephen Mallinga would address a press conference later in the day. The tests were done at the Government chemist’s laboratory in Wandegeya.
Meanwhile, one more person is said to have died in Wakiso district after taking the same brand of suspect waragi. This puts the death toll in Wakiso at 16 and at 41 overall.
The deceased was a resident of Lunnya village in Ndejje, said Dan Nsubuga, the information officer in Ggangu parish.
Ggangu village vice-chairman Robert Ssekuubwa said many more people could have died before: “I have been informed that some three other people died about two weeks ago after experiencing symptoms similar to those of the other victims.â€
And the death toll could rise because some people are still enjoying the suspected killer brew. Peter Gutawo, a resident of Ggangu zone C, vowed never to stop taking the waragi.
“Those who died had their own health problems. That is witchcraft,†Gutawo reasoned. He showed The New Vision half a dozen packs of the gin that he claimed he bought at a wholesale price of sh2,000. The retail price of each sachet is sh100.
THE Police are to exhume the bodies of people who died after drinking crude waragi. This is part of its investigations into the death of over 40 people who are suspected to have been poisoned by the locally-brewed drink.
Police spokesperson Edward Ochom revealed that the investigations, which kicked off yesterday, will involve carrying out a postmortem on the victims.
Ochom said the results of the tests from the Government chemist would also help in their investigations.
“We shall work hand in hand with Ministry of Health officials,†he stated.
“Following the deaths, the health ministry took some samples and the results of their analysis will be out at 11:00am on Friday,†Dr. Sam Okware, the Commissioner for Health Services, revealed.
Okware said health minister Dr. Stephen Mallinga would address a press conference later in the day. The tests were done at the Government chemist’s laboratory in Wandegeya.
Meanwhile, one more person is said to have died in Wakiso district after taking the same brand of suspect waragi. This puts the death toll in Wakiso at 16 and at 41 overall.
The deceased was a resident of Lunnya village in Ndejje, said Dan Nsubuga, the information officer in Ggangu parish.
Ggangu village vice-chairman Robert Ssekuubwa said many more people could have died before: “I have been informed that some three other people died about two weeks ago after experiencing symptoms similar to those of the other victims.â€
And the death toll could rise because some people are still enjoying the suspected killer brew. Peter Gutawo, a resident of Ggangu zone C, vowed never to stop taking the waragi.
“Those who died had their own health problems. That is witchcraft,†Gutawo reasoned. He showed The New Vision half a dozen packs of the gin that he claimed he bought at a wholesale price of sh2,000. The retail price of each sachet is sh100.