the injured pupils in hospital
The injured pupils in hospital
A primary school in Kigarama sub-county is mourning the loss of two of its pupils.

The two children, identified as Isabellah Kemigisha, who was in Primary Three, and Benson Bainomugisha, in Primary One, died after being struck by lightning.

How many pupils were injured in Rwengiri lightning strike?

The tragic incident at Rwengiri Primary School occurred during a heavy downpour at around 3pm, while classes were in session.

In addition to the fatalities, 14 other pupils sustained injuries.

Rwengiri Primary School headteacher, Benards Bangirana, confirmed the incident, noting that the 14 injured pupils were rushed to Bushenyi Medical Centre (BMC) for treatment.

Rwengiri Primary School headteacher recounts ordeal

Bangirana recounted the chilling moment lightning struck the school located in the Sheema district of Uganda, noting that it happened within minutes of the downpour starting.

He said his teachers, visibly terrified, rushed into his office, reporting that pupils in the Primary One and Three blocks had been struck and were in critical condition.

"It started raining heavily, with strong winds, thunder, and lightning. About 15 minutes in, teachers rushed to my office with the heartbreaking news. We are devastated. This is the first time we have lost pupils to such a tragedy," he added.

The headteacher stated that the police had been informed of the situation and that post-mortems would be conducted at Kabwohe Health Centre IV.

Local leaders, including the Kigarama District Councillor, Kenneth Nuwagiira Ruyongo, commended the school staff for their swift response in ensuring the injured pupils were taken to the hospital.

He also urged parents not to lose faith in the school, noting that such incidents can happen anywhere.

"Let's not allow this to discourage us. We should now work together to install lightning conductors in schools and other public institutions to prevent similar incidents in the future," he said.

Police spokesperson Apollo Tayebwa said investigations were underway and vowed to stand with the families of the deceased during this difficult time.