“Some of these non-certified alcoholic drinks have been suspected to contain certain intoxicants that are very lethal…”
Pakwach, August 22, 2022: Twelve people have died in West Nile after consuming a rare alcoholic drink. This is the most appalling and rarest death to be recorded in Northern Uganda, in years.
Following the incident, police started investigating the crime.
In a letter to the community of Parkwach dated August 22, 2022, and copied to the Executive Director of UNBS (regulator), RDC Paul Eseru has issued a veto.
“We have gotten reports from the neighbouring districts in West-Nile sub-region that there are some alcoholic drinks in the open market that are not certified by Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS),” the letter reads in part.
“Some of these non-certified alcoholic drinks have been suspected to contain certain intoxicants that are very lethal and deleterious to humans,” the letter further adds.
According to the RDC, there are so far suspected cases of death recorded in some districts as a result of consuming these non-certified alcoholic drinks and investigations are ongoing.
“The community of Pakwach is therefore directed not to consume nor distribute any Non-certified alcoholic drinks or beverages. Anybody found violating this warning will be doing it at his or her own peril. Expect no further warning.”
Read the police findings and investigations on the same here.
As of Tuesday August 23, 2022, two more people were reported dead, bringing the death figures to fourteen.