Over 30 pupils and three teachers of Kembo Nuuhu Primary School in Buvuma district are hospitalised at Buvuma Health Center IV under critical condition after being struck by lightning.
The tragic incident occurred during a heavy storm around 10 am Tuesday.
The pupils were attending lessons when the thunderbolt struck. Muhammad Nviiri, a medic at Buvuma Health Center IV who recieved the lightning victims, says that the majority of them were in shock and severe pain when they were rushed there.
He revealed that although they had managed to stabilize most of the victims, two pupils he identified as Joyce Namuzungu and Ryan Ssempebwa are still in severe pain.
“The two sustained injuries, which almost caused them paralysis but we thank God it did not go that far. We are working tirelessly to see that they fully recover. The rest we discharged them yesterday evening but instructed them to return this morning for further assessment,” Dr Nviiri says.
Janifa Nakkazi, one of the affected teachers, says the thunderbolt was followed by a serious fire and almost affected every class but they managed to evacuate the pupils into a nearby mosque. Nakkazi sustained burns on the left leg.
Abudsalam Kembo, the primary two class teacher, says that he was shocked to see a goat that was in the compound dying on the spot.
Adrian Ddungu, the LC V Chairperson of Buvuma District, says this is not the first time lighting is causing disaster in the district.