Uganda has one of the highest rates of lightning strike deaths in the world and its capital 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, 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 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 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 killing 20 pupils and injuring almost 100 more. This was Runyanya primary school in lies about 160 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 , 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 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 where they were treated for burns.

10 . On October 1, a pupil of Te Ogali Primary School in Inomo Sub-county, , was killed by lightning as she returned from fetching water. 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 . 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 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 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 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 12th Oct. (2); 7 Budaka 2 Adjumani 10 Buliisa 14 injured 49 Bududa 78 Agago 11 Bundibugyo 25th June (3) 8 Bugiri 79 Alebtong Sept. 2010 (2) 12 Bushenyi 25th June (1); 83 Bukedea 3 Amolatar 27th June 18 Hoima - 13 injured 9 Bukwa 80 Amudat 19 Ibanda 85 Bulambuli 39 Amuru 26 Isingiro 1st Oct. (1) 13 Busia 5 Apac Sept. 2010 (4) 23 Kabale 15 Butaleja 6 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 28th June (20); 30 Kamuli 93 Kole 92 Kiryandongo >Hundred Injured 33 Kapchorwa 44 Kotido 41 Kisoro 35 Katakwi 97 Lamwo 96 Kyegegwa 26thSeptember 91 Kibuku 47 Lira 53 injured 46 Kyenjojo 45 Kumi 50 Maracha 52 Masindi 94 Kween 57 Moroto 55 Mbarara 98 Luuka 58 Moyo 102 Mitooma 101 Manafwa 62 Nakapiripirit 106 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 Uganda is divided into 111 districts and 69 Pallisa 68 Pader 87 Buvuma 27th June – 110 Serere 77 Yumbe 06 injured 89 Gomba one city (the capital city of Kampala) 28th June – 73 Sironko 112 Zombo 27 Kalangala 39 Injured across four administrative regions. Most 74 Soroti 82 Buikwe 90 Kalungu

75 Tororo 84 Bukomansimbi 29 Kampala districts are named after their main 36 Kayunga 56 Mityana 70 Rakai 38 Kiboga 59 Mpigi 72 Sembabule commercial and administrative towns. 95 Kyankwanzi 60 Mubende 76 Wakiso 48 Luweero 61 Mukono 100 Lyantonde 99 Lwengo 63 Nakaseke 51 Masaka 64 Nakasongola