Man collapses, dies after beer competition
Local brew commonly known as ajon. FILE PHOTO
Kumi- A 61-year-old man collapsed and died after taking five litres of concentrated local brew known as ajon during a beer competition in Mukongoro Sub-county, Kumi District.
Sauce Peter Atwarun collapsed and died on Monday evening after he participated in a competition in which Robert Okapel had staked Shs2,000 for anyone who gulped the five-litre brew in five minutes.
Mr David Olopodo, one of the organisers, said the rules of the beer competition restricted the competitors to concentrated liquor.
“The competition had attracted more than five people but on being told the terms of the game, only two people remained to compete,” he said.
Mr Olopodo added that as colleagues cheered the two competitors at Acaboi drinking joint, the deceased drank his ajon in less than five minutes, beating his competitor Jackson Okello, who failed to even take three litres of the staked brew.
“The deceased has been our renowned customer, he hardly ate food. His life depended on drinking. Unfortunately he has left us,” Mr Olopodo said.
The area LC1 for Acaboi Village, Mr Gabriel Ogwang, said after Robert Okapel realised that one of his competitors in the drinking spree had died, he vanished from the joint.
“The deceased is said to have started drinking crude waragi as early as 7am before he was lured by the Shs2,000 prize into the competition,” he added.
Mr Ogwang said cases of locals dying in drinking sprees are becoming common.
“People have relegated themselves to slaves of beer, they now prefer alcohol to food,” he said, adding that he had reported the matter to police.
Past incidents
Last year, a 45-year-old man died after drinking what authorities said was too much alcohol as he celebrated Independence Day.
Richard Acire, a resident of Pabuga Village, Atiak Sub-county in Amuru District, according to his close relatives began drinking local brew (waragi) the previous day as he prepared to celebrate Uganda’s 56th independence anniversary without eating food.
In 2014, a 50-year-old man died in Lwengo District after taking part in a drinking competition.
Emmanuel Sserwada was a resident of Kyakanyomozi Village in Kiseeka Sub-county. Sserwada was found dead in his house the following day.
It is alleged that during the competition, Sserwada took 10 tot packs of waragi before retiring to his home.
His neighbour said the deceased was known for participating in alcohol drinking competitions.
