As the second rainy season returns to northern Uganda, local leaders and health officials across the Lango sub-region are launching a major public awareness campaign to prevent injuries and deaths caused by lightning strikes.
Residents are being urged to change their lifestyles, especially when gathering in public places, to safeguard against sudden disasters.
The warning comes as communities brace themselves for severe weather. While some areas have managed to maintain a strong safety record, others face mounting challenges.
In Kwania district, health officials say proactive measures have paid off. Dr David Okino, the District Health Officer, reports that the district has avoided any lightning-related casualties for over a decade.
However, the situation remains critical in schools, where high concentrations of children gather daily.
In Apac Municipality, local authorities recently organised an emergency training session focused on sudden disasters. Christine Adongo, the headteacher of St. Francisca Secondary School, emphasises that the training was vital in educating children how to protect themselves when the storm hits.
Despite these efforts, infrastructure challenges loom large. At Apac Secondary School, deputy headteacher Johnson Okwir points out that older government structures lack basic lightning arresters compared to modern buildings.
Okwir notes that while the school included lightning protection in its five-year development plan, delays in school fee payments from parents stalled the purchase.
Fortunately, the school has finally managed to acquire the necessary equipment, he told tndNews, Uganda.
The private sector is also pushing for wider adoption of safety tech. James Opio, the Managing Director of Low Price Solar Solutions, says his company has already installed over twenty lightning protection systems in villages and public hubs across the Lango sub-region.
Opio criticises leaders who neglect lightning arresters due to their price tags—which start at shs1.5 million —warning that failing to invest in these systems can cost human lives.
For some, the investment is already paying off. Students at St. Francisca Girls’ Secondary School, the only government girls’ school in Apac, have expressed immense relief after their administration successfully fitted arresters on two main buildings, including their dormitory.
School leaders hope this will serve as an essential blueprint for safety across other institutions in northern Uganda.
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