A lightning strike has killed a 19-year-old girl and left another nursing injuries during a rainstorm in Otuke District, highlighting the continued danger posed by severe weather in northern Uganda. The incident occurred on Tuesday evening in Alutkot Village, Angetta Parish, Olilim Sub-county.
The deceased has been identified as Daphne Acam, who had reportedly gone to fetch water from a nearby well when the tragedy happened. A survivor, Sam Enwako, 15, a cattle keeper at the home of Felix Okello Ogwal, said he and a friend were returning cattle home when they met Acam moments before the lightning struck. “We had just seen her a few minutes earlier,” Enwako said.
“Then the rain started, and lightning struck.” Local leaders described the incident as a devastating loss to the community. Jimmy Ocila, the LC I Chairperson of Alutkot Village, said it was the second lightning-related tragedy recorded in the area during his tenure. He recalled an earlier incident in which three cows were killed by lightning.
The girl’s father, Bosco Omoo, said he received the heartbreaking news while relaxing with friends at a nearby trading center. “We had a good relationship, and her death is a painful shock to the entire family.” John Omoo, the deceased’s grandfather, had travelled to Olilim Sub-county headquarters to collect hand hoes being distributed by the government. He said rain began as he made his way home.
While passing through Oweyo Trading Centre, a clan leader informed him that his granddaughter had been killed by lightning. “I could not believe what I was hearing,” he said. Felix Okello Ogwal, at whose home Acam had been staying, said he was also returning from the sub-county headquarters when he learned of the tragedy. “She was a hardworking girl who often helped prepare meals for people looking after my cattle,” Ogwal said. “Her death has left a big gap in our family.”
Police confirmed the incident and gave a green light for her to be buried. Lightning strikes remain a significant weather-related hazard in Uganda, particularly during the rainy seasons. According to weather experts, lightning can kill instantly through cardiac arrest, severe burns, and nervous system injuries.
It can also destroy homes, kill livestock, and damage electrical equipment. Experts advise residents to seek shelter immediately when thunderstorms begin, avoid standing under isolated trees, stay away from open fields and water sources, and refrain from using electrical appliances during storms.
Communities are also encouraged to install lightning protection systems on schools, churches, and other public buildings to reduce casualties. The latest incident has left residents of Alutkot Village in mourning as family members and friends struggle to come to terms with the sudden loss of a young life cut short by nature’s fury-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
