IGANGA: Tragic Lightning Strike Claims Life of Teacher

siteadmin February 3, 2024 News No Comment

A tragic incident occurred at Nambale Primary School in Nambale sub-county, Iganga District, where a teacher, Ms Joy Kanage, lost her life due to a lightning strike.

The unfortunate event took place while she was walking in the school compound, as reported by the Nambale sub-county LC3 chairman, Mr Nasur Ibanda. The police confirmed that lightning was the cause of her death, and her body was subsequently handed over to her relatives for burial.

Responding to this incident, the Iganga District LC5 chairman, Mr Ezra Gabula, called upon the government to prioritize the installation of lightning arresters in schools before they reopen for the upcoming term. He highlighted the lack of lightning arresters in many schools within the district and emphasized the need for their enforcement to prevent such tragedies.

However, the Iganga District Education Officer, Mr Baker Kasadhakawo, presented a different perspective, stating that schools in the district do have lightning arresters. He clarified that the challenge lies in the limited operational range of these devices, especially over long meters (radius) from buildings. The tragic incident involving Ms Joy Kanage occurred on the football field, where she had gone to collect goats as rain started falling.

This unfortunate event sheds light on the vulnerability of schools in the Busoga sub-region to lightning incidents, which have previously resulted in the loss of lives, particularly among children. In June 2011, four Senior Four students from Valley Hill Secondary School in Kaliro District were hospitalized after being struck by lightning.

Similarly, just two days earlier, two pupils at Nawangoma Primary School in Jinja District lost their lives to a thunderbolt. The recurring nature of such incidents underscores the importance of proactive measures to enhance the safety of students and staff in these schools.