By Spy Uganda
Arua: Police in Arua has confirmed an incident where 10 male juveniles between the ages of 11-16 years hailing from the villages of Gbuluku and Nyaute were killed by lightning strikes at a football pitch near Odramacaku trading centre, Anzuu parish, Ayivuni sub county, Ayivu division, Arua City.
READ ALSO: Lightning Strikes One Dead, Five Injured In Bushenyi
According to Police, the incident happened at about 1800 hours in the evening of Thursday August 27, 2020 when the children who were playing at the pitch took shelter from rain in a grass thatched structure next to the pitch.
The deceased are Andrua Samuel 16yrs, Awia Kennedy 13yrs, Andama Godfrey 13yrs, Bati Gasper 15yrs, Afeku Saviour 13yrs, Edema Jasiri 15yrs, Ocatre Patrick 13yrs, Asite Jordan 11yrs, Apajobo David 12yrs, Tom 13yrs, all male juveniles and their bodies were taken by the relatives for burial.
READ ALSO: Shock As 4 More People Are Struck By Lightning In Bushenyi
According to Police Spokesperson West Nile sub-region Angucia Josephine among the struck children, 4 survived and are still receiving treatment and these includes; Ayikobua Martin 11yrs from Nyaute village, Munguci Boniface 14yrs from Nyaute village, Adriko Yofasi 14yrs from Gbuluku village and Andama Festo 9yrs from Gbuluku village.
READ ALSO: Lightning Strikes 5 People Dead
SP Angucia adds that due to the rainy season, West Nile has had a lot of lightning and various incidences have been confirmed in the same region.
The incident involving huge numbers follows that of June, 2012 that struck at Runyanya Primary Schools in Western Uganda and killed 18 pupils with their teacher and 36 pupils admitted to the hospital.
This also followed a week after 28 people had been killed by lightning and scores injured and Minister of State for Disaster Preparedness Musa Ecweru said the deaths occurred because buildings had not been installed with lightning rods.
