Seventy-two people were admitted to Buwenge General Hospital Thursday, having developed diarrhoea and vomiting after allegedly eating food suspected to be lased with poison at a funeral of former Kagoma County Kadhi Shiekh Ahamada Magumba, who died on Sunday.
Seventy-two people from Bukasami Village in Buyengo Town Council were admitted to Buwenge General Hospital, Thursday, having developed diarrhoea and vomiting after allegedly eating food suspected to be lased with poison at a funeral of former Kagoma County Kadhi Shiekh Ahamada Magumba, who died on Sunday.The three who succumbed to suspected poisoning include Sula Byanguwa, 4, Faizo Magumba, 20, and Shamim Naigaga According to Samuel Akalyamawa, a resident of Bukasami and councillor for Buyengo Town Council, all those who ate at the funeral had similar signs of running stomach and vomiting, including minors and adults.Sensing danger, they alerted health officials and Red Cross, who deployed ambulances and all the victims were evacuated to Buwenge General hospital.
Stanley Waako, a medical laboratory scientist at the hospital, said they received more than 70 patients. He said the victims had died on arrival and the rest were managed and were out of danger.
“We have got samples from the food, dead bodies and stool of the victims which we took to the government analytical laboratory for testing to ascertain the cause,” Waako said.
He added they will be able to brief the media after the results return.
Kiira Regional Police spokesperson James Mubi said Police have also opened a general inquiries file to investigate the matter. He called for anyone with information to privately share it with Police to help with the investigations.