Strange disease attacks Kampala
Jul 24, 2010
A strange disease has struck Mutungo zone 4 in Nakawa Division, Kampala. <br>The disease has killed four residents in one month, leaving about 30 seriously ill.
By john semakula
A strange disease has struck Mutungo zone 4 in Nakawa Division, Kampala.
The disease has killed four residents in one month, leaving about 30 seriously ill.
Rosemary Nakamya, 12, a P.5 pupil of St. James Primary School and Isaac, Mutyaba, a mechanic, died this week on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.
The LC1 chairman, Faisal Kibirige said Maama Ibra, 25, and Catherine Byaruhanga died at the beginning of July.
Those who are seriously ill include, Sylvia Nasolo, 24, Posiano Mbabazi, 33, Maada Namirembe, 27, and her husband Tadeo Byamukama, 28.
Namirembe and Tadeo are the parents of Nakamya, who died on Tuesday. They got the disease after her death.
Others are Cisy Wokyalya, 27, Sawuya Masika, 14, Swabula Masika, 14, Seyifu Lakala, 8, Margaret Nalwoga, 10 and Sheni Byamukama, 5, all members of one family.        Â
The deceased and the sick complained of strong headache, fever, abdominal pain before they becoming anaemic and dying eventually.
Nakamya’s parents took her to Gombe Hospital and to a traditional healer. “She was given tablets at Gombe, but her condition worsened after we returned home and she died the following day,†said Byamukama.
When Nakamya’s relatives consulted a traditional healer, he said she had jumped over charms on her way to school.
Just a day after Nakamya’s death, Mutyaba, a neighbour got a disease with similar signs and died within a day.
Nasolo, who was admitted to Mulago Hospital for two weeks, and discharged after doctors failed to diagnose the disease is fighting for her life.Â
The officer-in-charge of epidemics at the Ministry of Health, Dr Luswa Lukwago, said they are not yet aware of the outbreak. “The symptoms you describe can be for any disease such as malaria. I can’t confirm until I have visited the area.â€
Residents suspect that the disease might have been caused by evil spirits, which were allegedly bought by one of them for wealth. They claim these spirits might have gone on rampage after he failed to appease them.
Others, however, suspect that the spirits were sent by relatives of the victims of a land wrangle which left four dead in April. The four were part of a gang of muscled men who had been hired by a rich man to destroy residents’ houses at night, but were lynched by a mob. Two of their bodies were burnt.
Residents held a meeting on Thursday and resolved to hire a traditional healer to exorcise the spirits from the village.
Kibirige (the chairman) said they have contacted Sylvia Namutebi, aka Mama Fina, the supreme leader of the traditional healers in Uganda, who asked them to buy a sheep, local beer, a cock and a knife to be used in exorcising the spirits.
Strange diseases are not new in Uganda and poisonous Waragi which started has a strange disease killed over 100 Ugandans and left many blind.
A strange disease has struck Mutungo zone 4 in Nakawa Division, Kampala.
The disease has killed four residents in one month, leaving about 30 seriously ill.
Rosemary Nakamya, 12, a P.5 pupil of St. James Primary School and Isaac, Mutyaba, a mechanic, died this week on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.
The LC1 chairman, Faisal Kibirige said Maama Ibra, 25, and Catherine Byaruhanga died at the beginning of July.
Those who are seriously ill include, Sylvia Nasolo, 24, Posiano Mbabazi, 33, Maada Namirembe, 27, and her husband Tadeo Byamukama, 28.
Namirembe and Tadeo are the parents of Nakamya, who died on Tuesday. They got the disease after her death.
Others are Cisy Wokyalya, 27, Sawuya Masika, 14, Swabula Masika, 14, Seyifu Lakala, 8, Margaret Nalwoga, 10 and Sheni Byamukama, 5, all members of one family.        Â
The deceased and the sick complained of strong headache, fever, abdominal pain before they becoming anaemic and dying eventually.
Nakamya’s parents took her to Gombe Hospital and to a traditional healer. “She was given tablets at Gombe, but her condition worsened after we returned home and she died the following day,†said Byamukama.
When Nakamya’s relatives consulted a traditional healer, he said she had jumped over charms on her way to school.
Just a day after Nakamya’s death, Mutyaba, a neighbour got a disease with similar signs and died within a day.
Nasolo, who was admitted to Mulago Hospital for two weeks, and discharged after doctors failed to diagnose the disease is fighting for her life.Â
The officer-in-charge of epidemics at the Ministry of Health, Dr Luswa Lukwago, said they are not yet aware of the outbreak. “The symptoms you describe can be for any disease such as malaria. I can’t confirm until I have visited the area.â€
Residents suspect that the disease might have been caused by evil spirits, which were allegedly bought by one of them for wealth. They claim these spirits might have gone on rampage after he failed to appease them.
Others, however, suspect that the spirits were sent by relatives of the victims of a land wrangle which left four dead in April. The four were part of a gang of muscled men who had been hired by a rich man to destroy residents’ houses at night, but were lynched by a mob. Two of their bodies were burnt.
Residents held a meeting on Thursday and resolved to hire a traditional healer to exorcise the spirits from the village.
Kibirige (the chairman) said they have contacted Sylvia Namutebi, aka Mama Fina, the supreme leader of the traditional healers in Uganda, who asked them to buy a sheep, local beer, a cock and a knife to be used in exorcising the spirits.
Strange diseases are not new in Uganda and poisonous Waragi which started has a strange disease killed over 100 Ugandans and left many blind.