Kabale waragi toll reaches 30
Apr 07, 2010
THE death toll from contaminated locally distilled brew in Kabale district has reached 30 people.
By Goodluck Musinguzi
and Patrick Murangira
THE death toll from contaminated waragi in Kabale district has reached 30 people.
The deaths occurred during the Easter weekend across several villages in the district. Patrick Tusiime, the district medical
chief, said 10 more people died yesterday. The other 20 died three days earlier.
Most deaths occurred at the hospitals of Kabale and Rugarama, as well as in Kanyakwazi village.
Tusiime said the symptoms are general malaise, thirst, headache, impaired vision, sweating, abdominal discomfort, joint pains, as well as difficulty in breathing. The symptoms appear within six hours of taking the killer gin.
He explained that the most affected villages are Mwendo, Kekubo, Bugongi, Mukasiide, Kirigime, Nyakambu, Rutooma, Kanyakwazi, Kaharo and Nagara.
Tusiime said samples of the gin, suspected to have been laced with methanol, had been sent to the government chemist in Kampala and another research centre in Entebbe for testing.
He warned the people to stop taking alcohol packed in sachets (buveera) and ordered bar owners to stop selling the alcohol until the results of the tests are out.
Intelligence sources said local brew like muramba is also adulterated with the poisonous spirits to make it more potent.
A victim, Esau Karimunda, 50, of Kaburara cell in Kasinde-Mwendo parish, said he lost sight on Saturday after consuming a glass of waragi which he bought at a local bar. “I got dizzy, became weak and when I went to a clinic on Monday, I was referred to Rugarama Hospital,†he said.
He said his son, Enock Mwebembezi, 28, who shared the drink with him, died.
The hospitals named some of the dead as S. Owomugisha, Allen Tumukwasibwe, Kenneth Muhumuza, Kakiga, Nelson Byarugaba, Enock Mwebembezi, Scovia Hakiri, Johnson Muhwezi, Hope, Kanyonza, Jovia Karungi, George Kabatereine, Naftari Bucweki, Mariko Munyagyenzi, Esau Karikunda, Kariyo Stephen, Dennis Bihugyeho, Silvester Rwabusakari, Tumusiime Rwabusakari, Tumwebaze Rwabusakari, Rugirehe, Erisam Baryakira and Benard Katatubuka.
An emergency meeting of security and health officers resolved to sensitise the public on the dangers of the gin.
The manufacture and sale of sachet waragi was banned last September after the poisonous alcohol killed over 20 people. Health minister Stephen Mallinga said the sachet waragi was locally made, cheap and, therefore, affordable to young people.
However, industry state minister Simon Lokodo lifted the ban six weeks later, saying manufacturers had not been given a fair hearing.
and Patrick Murangira
THE death toll from contaminated waragi in Kabale district has reached 30 people.
The deaths occurred during the Easter weekend across several villages in the district. Patrick Tusiime, the district medical
chief, said 10 more people died yesterday. The other 20 died three days earlier.
Most deaths occurred at the hospitals of Kabale and Rugarama, as well as in Kanyakwazi village.
Tusiime said the symptoms are general malaise, thirst, headache, impaired vision, sweating, abdominal discomfort, joint pains, as well as difficulty in breathing. The symptoms appear within six hours of taking the killer gin.
He explained that the most affected villages are Mwendo, Kekubo, Bugongi, Mukasiide, Kirigime, Nyakambu, Rutooma, Kanyakwazi, Kaharo and Nagara.
Tusiime said samples of the gin, suspected to have been laced with methanol, had been sent to the government chemist in Kampala and another research centre in Entebbe for testing.
He warned the people to stop taking alcohol packed in sachets (buveera) and ordered bar owners to stop selling the alcohol until the results of the tests are out.
Intelligence sources said local brew like muramba is also adulterated with the poisonous spirits to make it more potent.
A victim, Esau Karimunda, 50, of Kaburara cell in Kasinde-Mwendo parish, said he lost sight on Saturday after consuming a glass of waragi which he bought at a local bar. “I got dizzy, became weak and when I went to a clinic on Monday, I was referred to Rugarama Hospital,†he said.
He said his son, Enock Mwebembezi, 28, who shared the drink with him, died.
The hospitals named some of the dead as S. Owomugisha, Allen Tumukwasibwe, Kenneth Muhumuza, Kakiga, Nelson Byarugaba, Enock Mwebembezi, Scovia Hakiri, Johnson Muhwezi, Hope, Kanyonza, Jovia Karungi, George Kabatereine, Naftari Bucweki, Mariko Munyagyenzi, Esau Karikunda, Kariyo Stephen, Dennis Bihugyeho, Silvester Rwabusakari, Tumusiime Rwabusakari, Tumwebaze Rwabusakari, Rugirehe, Erisam Baryakira and Benard Katatubuka.
An emergency meeting of security and health officers resolved to sensitise the public on the dangers of the gin.
The manufacture and sale of sachet waragi was banned last September after the poisonous alcohol killed over 20 people. Health minister Stephen Mallinga said the sachet waragi was locally made, cheap and, therefore, affordable to young people.
However, industry state minister Simon Lokodo lifted the ban six weeks later, saying manufacturers had not been given a fair hearing.