Uganda has one of the highest rates of lightning strike deaths in the

world and its capital Kampala has world and its capital Kampala has more days of lightning per year

than any other city, according to the World Meteorological

Organization

1. On Saturday, 25th June 2011, lightning struck a group of mourners who were sitting under a tree and three died moments later. This is was in Akura Sub County, Alebtong district. Eye witnesses said over 50 people were injured but 15 serious cases were taken to Lira Regional Referral Hospital, Alebtong Health Centre IV and Lira Medical Centre.

2. One person was killed in Amolatar district in a different incident 2. One person was killed in Amolatar district in a different incident on the same day, Saturday. Alfred Ibek was hit at 3pm while going to a landing site

3. on Monday evening, 27th June 2011, Lightning struck again injuring 13 people who were sheltering from rain at Omoro Sub County headquarters. The lightning struck a police communication antenna adjacent to the sub county offices and in the process 13 people sustained burns.

4. On the same day, Monday 27th June 2011, Six people in Yumbe District were similar victims while a cleric in Hoima is admitted to a private clinic partially paralysed after he was struck on Monday.

5. Tuesday, 28th June 2011 - Lightning struck a primary school in Uganda killing 20 pupils and injuring almost 100 more. This was Runyanya primary school in Kiryandongo district lies about 160 miles (some 260 kilometers) west of Uganda's capital Kampala.miles (some 260 kilometers) west of Uganda's capital Kampala.

6. Same day, Tuesday 28th June 2011, At Paidha Role Model Primary School, another school 200 miles (some 320 kilometers) northwest of Kampala, in Zombo district, lightning hit injuring 37 students and two teachers.

7. Uganda’s state-run daily New Vision says the latest spate has claimed more than 40 lives nationwide in a few weeks. Many cases go unreported.

8. Two primary school children and an old lady were killed in Jinja while three people were killed in Gulu by lightning this month – June 2011.

9. On September 26, lightning struck two classes and injured 53 pupils. They were rushed to Ogur Health Centre IV in Lira District where they were treated for burns.

10 . On October 1, a pupil of Te Ogali Primary School in Inomo Sub-county, Apac District, was killed by lightning as she returned from fetching water. Vicky Akao, 13, was with her younger sister when she met her death.Vicky Akao, 13, was with her younger sister when she met her death.

11. On 12th October, two students were killed and 14 others injured after a lightning incident in Pakelle Comprehensive Secondary School in Adjumani district. A witness said: “After a loud thunder, I shortly heard students screaming. When I reached the scene, I saw students with injuries and blood spilled on the classroom floor.”

12. In September last year (2010), six pupils were killed in Apac and Alebtong districts. Two were from Oburu Primary School, Omoro sub-county in Alebtong while four were pupils of Te-lela Primary School in Apac.

� The rate at which lightening has been striking has increased tremendously. “We are seeing now that there is greater climate variability,” says Charles Basalirwa, head of the meteorological unit at Kampala’s Makerere University.

� “These events have suddenly become more and more � “These events have suddenly become more and more pronounced.” “Are these sort of events going to become more common, or not?”

� Economic losses are enormous but they have not been documented.

� “It's not real lightning, man! The U.S. government has Intelligent Weather Technology! They can’t test it out on US soil so they use the Third World as US soil so they use the Third World as Guinea Pigs!” – news.blogs.cnn.com

�Witchcraft

�Ancestral spirits or gods

� “I don’t know which minister is in charge of the lightning, but let the government come with a statement to inform the country on what is going on and how we can manage it,” Rebecca Kadaga, Uganda’s speaker of parliament, told legislators.

� Meteorology experts say school buildings are being hit because they don't have lightning conductors and are built on high they don't have lightning conductors and are built on high ground.

� “It is now that we have realized that many schools and health centers do not have these conductors,” Musa Ecweru, state minister for disaster preparedness said at the briefing. “There has been negligence on the part of those who certify if buildings are fit for public use.”

Map District INCIDENTS Map District INCIDENTS Map District INCIDENTS

4 Amuria 1 Abim 81 Buhweju

7 Budaka 2 Adjumani12th Oct. (2);

14 injured10 Buliisa

49 Bududa 78 Agago 11 Bundibugyo

8 Bugiri 79 Alebtong25th June (3)

Sept. 2010 (2)12 Bushenyi

83 Bukedea 3 Amolatar

25th June (1);

27th June

- 13 injured

18 Hoima

9 Bukwa 80 Amudat 19 Ibanda

85 Bulambuli 39 Amuru 26 Isingiro

13 Busia 5 Apac1st Oct. (1)

Sept. 2010 (4)23 Kabale

15 Butaleja 6 Arua 24 Kabarole

88 Buyende 16 Dokolo 31 Kamwenge

20 Iganga 17 Gulu June 2011 (3) 32 Kanungu

21 Jinja June 2011 (3) 22 Kaabong 34 Kasese

25 Kaberamaido 42 Kitgum 37 Kibaale

28 Kaliro 43 Koboko 40 Kiruhura

30 Kamuli 93 Kole 92 Kiryandongo

28th June (20);

>Hundred

Injured

33 Kapchorwa 44 Kotido 41 Kisoro

35 Katakwi 97 Lamwo 96 Kyegegwa

91 Kibuku 47 Lira26thSeptember

46 Kyenjojo91 Kibuku 47 Lira26 September

53 injured46 Kyenjojo

45 Kumi 50 Maracha 52 Masindi

94 Kween 57 Moroto 55 Mbarara

98 Luuka 58 Moyo 102 Mitooma

101 Manafwa 62 Nakapiripirit 106 Ntoroko

53 Mayuge 104 Napak 66 Ntungamo

54 Mbale 65 Nebbi 109 Rubirizi

103 Namayingo 107 Nwoya 71 Rukungiri

14 Namutumba 108 Otuke 111 Sheema

105 Ngora 67 Oyam 86 Butambala

69 Pallisa 68 Pader 87 Buvuma

110 Serere 77 Yumbe27th June –

06 injured89 Gomba

73 Sironko 112 Zombo28th June –

39 Injured27 Kalangala

74 Soroti 82 Buikwe 90 Kalungu

75 Tororo 84 Bukomansimbi 29 Kampala

36 Kayunga 56 Mityana 70 Rakai

38 Kiboga 59 Mpigi 72 Sembabule

95 Kyankwanzi 60 Mubende 76 Wakiso

48 Luweero 61 Mukono 100 Lyantonde

99 Lwengo 63 Nakaseke 51 Masaka

64 Nakasongola

Uganda is divided into 111 districts and

one city (the capital city of Kampala)

across four administrative regions. Most

districts are named after their main

commercial and administrative towns.