HEAVEN’S FURY! Lightning Strike Kills Three Children in Kabale

Three pupils of Bweera Primary School in Kafunjo Parish, Maziba Sub-county, Ndorwa East County in Kabale District have been struck dead by lightning.

The deceased have been identified as Faith Namanya, a Primary Five pupil and daughter of Ronald Rukarekooha; Daphine Musimeki, a Primary Four pupil; and Shine Ainebyoona, a Top Class (nursery) pupil, both daughters of Jotham Tukwasiibwe.

The children were all residents of Kahama Village in Kafunjo Parish.The tragic incident occurred on Sunday evening (May 3, 2026) at around 5:30 PM.

According to Edison Bikorwomuhangi, the school head teacher and a local resident, Namanya had visited Ainebyoona and Musimeki, who are neighbours, and the three took shelter from a heavy downpour in the kitchen. Bikorwomuhangi explains that while the children were sheltering, lightning struck the house, killing all three instantly.

Jotham Tukwasiibwe, the father of Ainebyoona and Musimeki, said he was alerted by residents while at a nearby trading centre. He added that upon returning home, he was shocked to find the three children lying dead.Lightning-related incidents are common in the Kigezi region.

In March 2026, Gracious Ayebare, a Primary Five pupil, Mackline Desire Tukamushaba, also in Primary Five, and Duncan Saturday, a Primary Three pupil at Katojo Primary School in Habuhuriro Parish, Kahungye Sub-county, Kabale District, were struck and injured by lightning.

In that incident, teachers had delayed sending pupils home for lunch due to heavy rain. However, when the pupils later rushed home, they were struck by lightning upon reaching Katojo B Village within the same parish.

In December 2022, a 20-year-old man identified only as Fere from Nyarurambi Village in Muko Sub-county, Rubanda District was struck dead by lightning.In September 2021, Edidiya Turyatemba, 42, and Diana Kajowa, 31, both residents of Mukasyokwe Village in Kanungu District, were also killed in a similar incident.

Earlier cases include the death of Aggrey Ainembabazi, a pupil of Nyakeina Parents Primary School, who was struck dead in April 2018, while seven others survived with injuries.

In the same month, a woman and her daughter were killed by lightning in Karangara Parish, Kabale District.More recently, in March 2023, Ambrose Kanunu, 35, and his two sons, Justus Asiimwe, 7, and Arnold Habomugisha, 5, pupils of Bwindi Primary School in Rubanda District,were killed by lightning.

In June 2025, Moses Kenaama, 69, and Faith Bushambire, 73, were struck and injured in Rubaya Sub-county, Kabale District. The Kigezi sub-region remains one of the most lightning-prone areas in Uganda, according to the 2021 National Risk and Vulnerability Atlas.