79 pupils struck by lightning in Nebbi district
By Patrick Okaba
Nearly 80 pupils of Oweko Primary School in Ndhew sub-county, Nebbi district have this afternoon been struck by lightning.
The pupils from different primary schools of Owilo, Ogalo, Padela, Omoyo were at Oweko play grounds for the inter-school football and netball competitions when the incident happened.
The LC III chairperson for Ndhew sub county Mr Bosco Okwai says fortunately, by press time there were reported fatalities and that those who sustained injuries are being transferred to Nebbi Hospital which situated about 4 kilometres from Oweko trading centre for further management.
He explains that the pupils had taken shelter in the structures around the field from a heavy afternoon downpour when the lightning struck.
“We are not sure about the exact numbers of those injured but the information i personally got from the host primary school headteacher indicates that 30 pupils were struck by lightning including a teacher from Owilo Primary school who escorted his pupils for competitions is seriously injured”, Okwai said.
One of the residents of Oweko center Mr Peter Okaba says, he heard thunder sounds with sparkling bright light and shortly thereafter heard screams from the children and when they went out, they discovered pupils had been struck by lightning and they started connecting with rescue teams for an ambulance.
