Tragedy in Jinja: Lightning Strike Kills Two Sugarcane Loaders

A tragic rainstorm in Jinja district has claimed the lives of two casual labourers working at the Namagera Central sugarcane weighbridge. The victims, identified as 34-year-old Abdul Muwereza and 35-year-old Hassan Mubiru, were working as loaders when the incident occurred.

According to eyewitness accounts from fellow worker Aloysious Wakabi, about 15 employees had gathered under a jackfruit tree to seek refuge as heavy rain approached. Shortly afterward, a supervisor called upon some of the loaders to offload sugarcane from a nearby truck. While ten workers responded to the call, four remained behind near the tree.

A loud blast shook the area just moments later. When the workers gathered at their emergency assembly point, they realized four colleagues were missing. A quick search of the yard led them to Muwereza and Mubiru, who were found unresponsive beneath the jackfruit tree.

Scovia Mirembe, a cleaner at the facility, stated that the injured men were rushed to Buwenge General Hospital, where medical personnel pronounced them dead on arrival. Their bodies were subsequently moved to the Jinja Regional Referral Hospital mortuary for postmortem examinations before being released to their grieving families for burial.

The fatal incident has sparked concerns regarding workplace safety. Mirembe pointed out that the weighbridge lacks a proper designated shelter, leaving casual labourers with no safe option other than taking refuge under trees when downpours begin.

In response to the tragedy, Jinja District LC V chairperson Moses Batwala issued a public appeal. He urged residents to strictly adhere to weather safety advisories during severe thunderstorms and explicitly warned against the common practice of sheltering beneath trees, which easily attract lightning.

For more details on this incident, read the full report on The Observer.