Grief has engulfed the residents of Buyengo Town Council in Jinja District after a fearless yet to be identified individual, reportedly dropped poisonous substances in a food container at a burial ceremony.
At least seventy-two people are admitted at Buwenge General Hospital for medical management, while three individuals have been confirmed dead in the tragedy. The deceased were identified as Salu Byanguwa, 4, Faizal Magumba, 20 and Shamim Nangobi, 20-year-old, all residents of Buyengo Town Council in Jinja district.
The tragic incident unfolded at Bukasame village at the burial ceremony of Sheikh Ahammed Magumba, the County Khad of Kagoma “C,” who died from Bugiri district on Sunday during an evening prayer. It is said that the incident happened between Monday after the send-off event and Wednesday.
“Our people ate cooked rice in the night, and many started developing running stomach and serious stomachache in the morning. It was like a joke, but things turned when about fifty raised the same complaints,” said Samuel Akalyamawa, the district councillor representing Buyengo Town Council.
The victims, according to reports, belong to the same family. These include the children and ageing people who some are being referred to Jinja Regional Referral Hospital.
“We are currently just on God’s mercy, but we don’t know how our people will be. We have so far ferried seventy-two people, and ambulances are still bringing more from the village,” Akalyamawa told reporters at Buwenge General Hospital.
Stanley Waako, the Medical Laboratory Scientist at the hospital, said the blood was taken to Jinja hospital to diagnose the cause of the incident, and the food samples are also yet to be tested.
“We don’t have a laboratory to test poisonous substances here. The results of the blood we have taken to Jinja are expected to be out by tomorrow evening,” stated Waako, adding that investigations are still underway.
Waako added that “We are managing the patients and the unmanaged ones we are referring them to relevant facilities. Currently, we are picking stools from these patients, and we shall transfer them to Jinja hospital.
Reports indicate that other victims who had vacated the burial site to their respective designations are also being admitted to Kiyunga health IV in Luuka district and Nakavule hospital in Iganga district, while others are still in the local medical facilities in Buyengo. A team of Uganda Red Cross Society has intervened the disturbing matter to provide relevant aids.
Jackline Nakilnda, one of the victims, elaborates the odeal, saying the delicious “Pilawo” caused problems. “The beds are not enough. Three people are sharing the same bed, and the situation is at all not good,” she said before pleding for comprehensive rescue from government.
