Two siblings have died after being struck by lightning in Sheema district, western Uganda, on Monday evening, local officials have said.
The victims, 14-year-old Demus Tugabirwe and 12-year-old Triva Twinomugisha, were pupils at St Charles Lwanga Primary School in Shuuku Town Council. They were reportedly returning from grazing goats near their home in Kinogo Cell, Kishabya Ward, when the incident occurred.
Click here to join our WhatsApp Group and Receive Daily News
Eyewitnesses said the lightning strike happened at around 5:45pm in Kisizi Central Cell, Shuuku. “There were other people in the area, but it only struck the two children,” resident Lawrence Mugisha told reporters, adding that no one else was injured.
Police said the bodies were taken to Kabwohe Health Centre IV for a postmortem examination. Greater Bushenyi regional spokesperson SP Apollo Tayebwa said investigations are under way, and urged residents to take precautions during thunderstorms.
“People should remain alert in stormy weather and work closely with police to protect lives and property,” he said.
Lightning remains a recurring hazard in Uganda. According to the Uganda National Commission for UNESCO, 191 people have been killed and 727 injured by lightning strikes since 2007, with Hoima, Jinja, Kisoro, and Kalangala among the worst-affected districts. Many incidents occur in open areas such as grazing fields or under trees, and some have been recorded in homes and classrooms.
Experts from the African Centre for Lightning and Electromagnetics Network (ACLENet) say limited access to safe shelters and low public awareness contribute to the high number of casualties.
Residents in Sheema have described the deaths as a devastating loss to the community.
Also Read: Amama Mbabazi’s Daughter Wanted Over Unpaid Shs 450m Loan
