The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Agago, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Two minors are struggling for their lives at Kalongo hospital after being struck by a thunderbolt in Agago district on Monday evening. Eight other people escaped with injuries from the lightning bolt that struck Kakela village in Lakwa parish, Omiya Pachwa sub-county and killed eight heads of cattle.
James Opira, the LC3 chairperson of Omiya Pachwa sub-county says that the lightning struck the animals as they were taking shelter from the rain under a big tree. Opira says that the same thunderbolt hit eight out of fourteen people who were in a hut in the same home the animals were killed.
He identified some of the lightning victims as Stephen Okeng-gum,10, whose legs are paralyzed, and Peter Olwoch, 12, who was injured in the mouth. The other victims are Robinson Akena, who is semi-conscious, Innocent Okwi,13, whose legs are numb, and Walter Opiyo, 21, who is unable to walk because of an injury to his right knee.
He says the affected animals belonged to Simon Oling, Alfred Ongora, and Bosco Onyera. In October last year, lightning struck dead a mother and her six-month-old baby in their hut in Lotome Cell, Panyagol Parish in Wol town council, Agago district.
Rwot Kassimiro Ongom, the chief of the Patongo clan blamed the natural disasters such as lightning strikes, hailstones, and erratic rains affecting the district on the destruction of sacred tree species such as the shea nut tree, which their ancestors held in high esteem.
Kassimiro explains that when chiefs started an operation to end the destruction of trees, many people including local leaders protested their decision, which affected the operation. He said the Acholi ancestors express their anger through such calamities, adding that there is a need for the locals and leaders opposed to their operation to save the environment to ask for forgiveness so that such natural disasters end.
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