On Saturday, tragedy struck in Uganda’s northern district of Lamwo when a lightning strike hit a church, resulting in the death of 14 individuals and injuring 34 others, according to police reports.
The church, situated within the Palabek refugee camp, was the scene of this devastating event.
Kituuma Rusoke, the spokesperson for Uganda’s police, stated that the incident took place around 5:30 p.m., as worshippers had assembled for a prayer service.
“The incident occurred during a prayer service at a church located in Zone 8, Block 2 of the Palabek settlement camp,” Rusoke reported in a post on X this past Sunday.
“The individuals, who have not yet been identified, had gathered for worship when rain began around 5:00 p.m., and lightning struck at approximately 5:30 p.m.” Lightning strikes are not uncommon in Kenya’s western neighbor; a similar event in June at a school in the northern Nebbi District resulted in 77 students being injured.
During a games competition, these students were playing in an open field when the lightning hit. In August 2020, a tragic incident in the north-western city of Arua saw 10 children lose their lives due to a lightning strike while they sought refuge in a hut during a storm.
These children were playing when the weather turned, prompting them to take shelter in a grass-thatched structure that was ultimately struck by lightning.”
