At least 14 people, many of them children, lost their lives in Uganda when lightning struck a makeshift church in the Palabek refugee camp, officials confirmed on Sunday. The tragedy occurred on Saturday evening during a storm that struck as around 50 people were gathered for prayer.
According to police reports, the lightning hit the church’s metal roof, instantly killing 14 people. The victims included five girls and nine boys, all aged between 14 and 18, said William Komech, Resident District Commissioner for Uganda’s Lamwo region. The incident also left 34 others injured, who are receiving treatment at a nearby health center.
Most of the affected refugees were from South Sudan’s Nuer community, a group that has sought refuge in Uganda to escape the conflict in their home country.
Uganda’s Minister for Refugees and Disaster Preparedness, Hillary Onek, announced that the government, in partnership with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and other relief organizations, is actively working to assist survivors. “The government team is already on the ground helping to deliver the bodies to their respective families,” he said, underscoring the government’s commitment to supporting affected families.
Uganda has faced multiple lightning-related tragedies in recent years. In 2011, a lightning strike at a primary school claimed the lives of at least 18 students, and in 2020, nine teenagers died in a similar incident. That same year, an apparent lightning strike killed four endangered mountain gorillas in Mgahinga National Park, highlighting the recurring threat lightning poses in the region.
The Palabek camp incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for enhanced safety measures to protect vulnerable communities during Uganda’s stormy seasons.
