Experts warn of more lightning incidents

Although over the past week dozens of lives have been claimed due to lightning, the problem is not about to end due to the uncontrolled nvironmental destruction which is exposing the soils at a high rate. Experts warn that the unchecked environment degradation in guise of development is the major reason why lightning is striking, writes Saturday Monitor’s Ephraim Kasozi.

With dozens dead and scores nursing injuries, more deaths should be expected as a result of lightning due to changes in climatic conditions, experts have warned.

Scientists and professional environmentalists say the uncontrolled environmental destruction in the country is the major cause of the recent lightning incidents in some parts of the country.
Over the past week, at least 31 people have died following sporadic bolts of lightning.

Despite myths surrounding it, the rampant occurrences in various parts of the country have been attributed to increasing environmental degradation coupled with energy connects.

“What we are witnessing also happened in western Kenya in the 1980s where a number of people died due to lightning that resulted from exposed soils through deforestation and yet some contained substantial amounts of silver which would attract lightning. We are also experiencing rapid exposure of soils and this could be the cause,” says Prof. Oweyegha-Afunaduula, an environment expert.

He argues: “As you expose the soils which were well protected by forests, you now expose the soils to elements of weather which could then explain the increasing frequency of lightning.”

Prof. Afunaduula explains that high levels of pollution resulting from the country becoming a dumping ground for all sorts of material which contain silver is another cause of lightning.

“These materials are spread all over the country and mainly originate from China. Some come in form of expired motor vehicle spare parts, radios and watches. Our careless disposal of such material could be a major reason for spread of lightning,” he adds.

At least 21 people perished on Tuesday when lightning struck three locations in different parts of Uganda, leaving a devastating trail.
Seventeen pupils and one student teacher had been pronounced dead by medical officers at Kiryandongo Hospital.

In the Eastern district of Sironko, two other deaths were reported when lightning struck a village, killing a 58-year-old man who had gone to visit a friend in Mpogo village.

The incident occurred during a heavy downpour which was characterized with hail stones, hardly an hour before the Kiryandongo tragedy. Following that lightning then spread to Karamoja region, which is tucked away in north eastern Uganda, striking a school in Kotido District, killing a pupil instantly and leaving one other unconscious on Tuesday.

Unfortunate family
On June 23, three children, all from one family, were struck dead during a lunch time downpour, as they left school for home. Seven other pupils of Luwombo Primary School in Kasubi Sub-county, Buikwe District were struck by lightning and rushed to Kawolo Hospital where they received treatment.
The children were reportedly in a shade under a tree to protect themselves from rain.

Barely two days after killing three mourners in Akura Sub-county, Alebtong District, lightning on the evening of June 24 struck and injured 13 people who were sheltering from rain at Omoro Sub-county headquarters.
Reports indicate that lightning struck a police communication Antenna before it struck the victims.

On June 23, four people, including Saturday Monitor journalist, Moses Akena, survived death when lightning struck a radio station in Gulu in the process also damaging a power changer of a telecom mast.

Mr Michael Nkalubo, the commissioner Ministry of Environment, said in the statement released on Wednesday that though lightning is a fascinating and dangerous phenomena, science can now explain it, thus removing the mystery.
An explanation on the cause of lightning from the meteorology department says; “When the air is sufficiently moist and warm, it is forced to rise into the atmosphere by convection. As this warm air rises, cold air moves in and meets the warm moist air which causes the warm air to rise rapidly forming large, dense, tall towers of anvil shaped cumulonimbus clouds commonly known as thunderstorm clouds.”

“Precipitation particles comprising of water droplets and ice crystals in the higher region of the clouds will then collide with each other as they rub against each other in strong currents of air rising and descending in the updrafts and downdrafts of the storm. As a result, this colliding and rubbing of many water droplets and ice crystals create a static electrical charge, causing areas of negative and positive charge to develop within the thunderstorm…,” it adds.

Prof. Afunaduula asserts that trees tend to have historical attractions to lightning. “Anything that stands is a candidate of being struck. Trees are victims all the time but one more interesting about trees is that they only stand but they are sucking iron materials form the soil.”

He adds; “And if silver is one of the elements being sucked from the soil, then the tree is a sure candidate of being struck by lightning. If there are many trees like in a forest, there would be adequate protection but still it would still seek out a certain tree and hit it.”

Prof. Afunaduula, who suggests for establishment of a research centre to validate the information and knowledge developed, warns that lightning is a catastrophe which is not about to go away.

“Unless we become environmentally sober and politicians become leaders in the crusade then we should be prepared for the worst disaster. We must balance environment and development and ensure that where development comprises environment not to do its way, development should give way to environment,” says the activist working with the National Association of professional Environmentalists.

Unusual surge
According to the Meteorological Department, the two weeks experience of unusual surge of moist air flow from the Congo basin into the country is a huge influx of moist air coupled with dry spells experienced in late May and early June.

“It (air flow) has created development of thunderstorm clouds leading to unusual rainfall during the normally dry month of June in western, central and eastern parts of the country.

Mr Nkalubo asked government to ensure that all colonial time lightning arresters that were installed on top of the hills all over the country are re-installed.

He says most of the instruments were vandalised since they contained red mercury which is a valuable commodity in the market. “Although lightning follows the rules of electricity, it is impossible to predict with precise accuracy. The public must be vigilant and take precaution, especially when storms are approaching with little drizzle and violent winds,” warns the meteorology statement.

The statement adds that taking precautions will not stop people from getting struck, but will only reduce the chance of a lightning strike.
Prof. Afunaduula insists that communities which have been laid bare and never have such issues of lightning, need to mobilise and clean up the mistake and plant trees.

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Wrap-up

Primary school closes indefinitely

Runyanya Primary School, which was struck by lightning and 19 students killed has been closed indefinitely, the district education officer has said.

Speaking to this paper in an exclusive interview soon after handing over the bodies to the parents on Wednesday, Mr Edward Kirya said all the stakeholders are traumatised and that the school will remain closed indefinitely.

He said the school will only reopen after counselling of the teachers, parents and the children. “We shall reopen after reassuring them of safety and security,” he said. “We are touched by the incident.”

He said Kiryandongo on May almost suffered a similar calamity when a classroom block collapsed on students of Koth Ogola Primary School. He said in the incident, 33 students were injured with some suffering broken limbs. Others are still admitted to hospital.

--- Hudson Apunyo, Kiryandongo
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Lightning strikes Kotido kills one

At least one pupil died on the spot while another one was left unconscious after Wednesday’s lightning that struck some parts of Kotido District.
The regional police spokesperson, Mr George Obia, identified the victim as Raffle Lotyang who was a primary three pupil at Kotido Army Primary School.
Mr Obia said lightning bolts struck Lotyang on his way home in Lobua village, Rengen Sub-county in Kotido District.

He advised constructors to install anti- lightning materials atop buildings.
The district Education officer, Mr Ambrose Tukei, urged the head teachers not to send the children away if the rains are about to fall.
“They should learn to prevent children even running up and down from the field when it’s raining,” he said. Mr Ambrose said it’s the first kind of incident to happen in Kotido District.

Meanwhile, Christians and the Muslims in Karamoja region are planning to have joint prayers over the matter which has become a threat in the country.
Since the beginning of last month, there have been several death and injury cases reportedly across the country caused by lightning.

-- Steven Ariong, Kotido

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Lightning kills one in Sironko

Barely a week after killing people in Alebtong District and injuring others, lightning has struck Sironko District killing one person instantly.

Mr Hassan Wandulu, 58, who had visited a friend, Mr Aramanzan Dongo, in Mpogo in Sironko was struck at about 3pm during a heavy down pour accompanied by hail stones on Tuesday.

Ms Hamida Kakai, who had accompanied Mr Wandulu to meet Mr Dongo, was also struck. She reportedly fell in one corner but shortly regained her consciousness and got out of the house.

Reports from Ms Kakai, who is a sister to the diseased, indicate that the two had gone to Sironko to negotaiate for a land deal when it started raining heavily.

“We were seated outside when it started raining heavily, so we immediately left the outside and went inside the house. My brother sat close to the door way and I sat exactly next to him. Shortly the rains increased, there was lightening that forced itself through the door way inside, it sent my brother on ground in one corner and I was also sent in another corner,” said Ms Kakai.

“After a short while I regained my conscienceness and moved to wake up my brother, I found him already dead and I started crying straight away.”
She revealed that the presence of several torch bulbs connected to many dry cells that had been connected to live copper wires hang at the roof inside the centre of the house to give light to the room might have triggered off the strike.

-- David Mafabi, Sironko