Lightning kills two more people from same family in Kigezi

Lightning has struck dead two more people from the same family in Kigezi sub-region. The dead are Jolly Baryakabuza, 75 and his son Enoth Tukwasiibwe, 30, both residents of Keita village in Rukungiri district. 

The two met their death around 7 pm on Wednesday during a heavy downpour. According to Enock Byarugaba, the LC I chairperson of Keita village, the downpour started at around 03:00 pm and lasted about five hours. 

Byarugaba says that Baryakabuza was preparing supper in the kitchen when she was struck while Tukwasiibwe had taken shelter in the main house. Elly Maate, the police spokesperson for the Kigezi region, says that the victims died on the spot.  

The latest incident happened just four days after lightning struck three people dead again from the same family in the neighbouring Rubanda district. The dead included Ambrose Kanunu, 35, a resident of Rwamuyora village, Nyarurambu parish, Muko sub-county, and his sons Justus Asiimwe, 7, and Arnold Habomugisha, 5, were struck dead on Sunday evening.  

Kanunu was in bed sleeping while the children were in a sitting room. The National Risk and Vulnerability Atlas of Uganda 2021 report that identifies areas in Uganda that are prone to disasters puts Rukungiri, Bushenyi, Mitooma, Kanungu, Busia, Namutumba, Bukwo, Kalangala, Buvuma, Adjumani, Nwoya, Amuru, and Lamwo districts as he hotspots for lightning.