Local gin waragi kills forty drinkers
Mar 01, 2007
AT least 40 people have died after drinking toxic waragi, a local gin, in the central region in the last two weeks. The popular drink had a lot of methanol, a ministry of health official said. It was packed in polythene sachets of 25ml and 30ml and sold for a paltry sh100.<br>
By Chris Kiwawulo
AT least 40 people have died after drinking toxic waragi, a local gin, in the central region in the last two weeks. The popular drink had a lot of methanol, a ministry of health official said.
It was packed in polythene sachets of 25ml and 30ml and sold for a paltry sh100.
Fifteen people had by yesterday died in the Kampala suburbs of Ggangu, Kibiri, Ndejje and Busabala, off Entebbe Road, local authorities said.
Twenty people died in Koome Island in Mukono district, four in Mubende while four died at Mulago Hospital. The Mulago deaths occurred between February 18 and 26. Ggangu recorded nine deaths. Bars and shopkeepers in Ggangu stopped selling the waragi yesterday.
The village vice-chairman, Robert Ssekuubwa, urged the residents to avoid the waragi. He identified the dead there as Matiya Kaaya, Mande Ssekyanzi, Moses Ssensozi, Deziranta Namusisi, Kawuki, Kadomola and Nalongo.
The latest victim, Ssensozi, died yesterday morning. Friends and the medical workers of Kibiri Medical Centre, said Ssensozi had complained of severe abdominal pain.
People who drink the gin suffer from severe headache, stomach pain, restlessness and lose sight and consciousness before they die, explained Dr. Ambrose Kyarisuna, the health ministry surveillance officer.
“Our diagnosis is that all these people took waragi, which had a lot of methanol. When you take alcohol with a lot of methanol, you can lose your sight, your liver will be affected and you can die.â€
Kyarisuna noted that the victims were sweating profusely, were restless, had severe headache and abdominal pain and had a blurred sight.
He added that samples of the brew would be tested by the Government Chemist in Wandegeya, Kampala to confirm if it caused the deaths. He warned the public against taking impure waragi.
In Kenya, deaths from contaminated crude gin known as ‘changaa’ are rampant but had been few in Uganda, where it is a criminal offence to brew and drink crude waragi. However, the problem has grown due to weak enforcement of the law. Sometimes policemen are involved in the brewing, sale and consumption of the illegal drink.
A survivor, Joseph Ndyanabo, a cobbler in Ggangu, on Busabala Road, 6km from Kampala city, said he lost his sight for two days. He said he vomited after a neighbour treated him with local herbs.
The head of the health services in Mukono district, Dr. Elly Tumushabe, said last week that unscrupulous traders were adding water and chemicals in the waragi to make it more potent.
Kyaddondo South MP Isa Kikungwe said he had taken samples of the gin to the Government Chemist for testing. “I am aware of the deaths and told local leaders to urge people to stop drinking the gin.â€
AT least 40 people have died after drinking toxic waragi, a local gin, in the central region in the last two weeks. The popular drink had a lot of methanol, a ministry of health official said.
It was packed in polythene sachets of 25ml and 30ml and sold for a paltry sh100.
Fifteen people had by yesterday died in the Kampala suburbs of Ggangu, Kibiri, Ndejje and Busabala, off Entebbe Road, local authorities said.
Twenty people died in Koome Island in Mukono district, four in Mubende while four died at Mulago Hospital. The Mulago deaths occurred between February 18 and 26. Ggangu recorded nine deaths. Bars and shopkeepers in Ggangu stopped selling the waragi yesterday.
The village vice-chairman, Robert Ssekuubwa, urged the residents to avoid the waragi. He identified the dead there as Matiya Kaaya, Mande Ssekyanzi, Moses Ssensozi, Deziranta Namusisi, Kawuki, Kadomola and Nalongo.
The latest victim, Ssensozi, died yesterday morning. Friends and the medical workers of Kibiri Medical Centre, said Ssensozi had complained of severe abdominal pain.
People who drink the gin suffer from severe headache, stomach pain, restlessness and lose sight and consciousness before they die, explained Dr. Ambrose Kyarisuna, the health ministry surveillance officer.
“Our diagnosis is that all these people took waragi, which had a lot of methanol. When you take alcohol with a lot of methanol, you can lose your sight, your liver will be affected and you can die.â€
Kyarisuna noted that the victims were sweating profusely, were restless, had severe headache and abdominal pain and had a blurred sight.
He added that samples of the brew would be tested by the Government Chemist in Wandegeya, Kampala to confirm if it caused the deaths. He warned the public against taking impure waragi.
In Kenya, deaths from contaminated crude gin known as ‘changaa’ are rampant but had been few in Uganda, where it is a criminal offence to brew and drink crude waragi. However, the problem has grown due to weak enforcement of the law. Sometimes policemen are involved in the brewing, sale and consumption of the illegal drink.
A survivor, Joseph Ndyanabo, a cobbler in Ggangu, on Busabala Road, 6km from Kampala city, said he lost his sight for two days. He said he vomited after a neighbour treated him with local herbs.
The head of the health services in Mukono district, Dr. Elly Tumushabe, said last week that unscrupulous traders were adding water and chemicals in the waragi to make it more potent.
Kyaddondo South MP Isa Kikungwe said he had taken samples of the gin to the Government Chemist for testing. “I am aware of the deaths and told local leaders to urge people to stop drinking the gin.â€