Nine people from the same family are admitted to Anaka General Hospital after drinking suspected poison-laced water.
The patients are identified as Esther Laker aged one year and 11months, Joshua Rubangakene, 5, Christopher Kakanyero, 7, Sharon Lakot, 11 and Monica Apiyo, 32. Others are Shukran Sunday, 24, James Ayoo, 35, Paul Labeja, 6 and Gift Lakica 3 all from the family of Wilson Kilama, chief of Lagazi A sub village in Purongo sub-county, Nwoya district.
Speaking at her sickbed, Apiyo told our reporter that the ill family members started feeling unwell with running stomach on Sunday evening, March 21, 2021, were rushed to a private health facility before being referred to Anaka General Hospital yesterday (Tuesday), March 23, 2021.
Apiyo suspects that the incident could be linked to a land wrangle with one of their neighbours.
A health worker at Anaka Hospital who preferred anonymity could not confirm whether the patients drank water laced with poison or not since the hospital does not have a toxicology machine for detecting chemical substances in the body.
“Others [patients] have just presented signs that we never wanted to narrow our thinking but we are still investigating the matter though what is of paramount right now is to ensure that all are safe. We shall run basic investigation but what should be noted is that people can also get infection based on the unfriendly environment for example drinking dirty water from the source,” the health worker told Kazi-njema News.
Mr Ben Okot, the Purongo Sub-county Chairman, said he learned that the family is embroiled in a land dispute.
“We have planned to engage both families in an emergency meeting and we seek better ways of addressing the matter before it goes out of hand,” Mr Okot said.
When contacted, the Nwoya district police commander, Filbert Waibi said he was yet to get the information but promised to follow it up.
Photo: Some of the victims admitted at Anaka general hospital on 24th March 2021 after drinking water from a pot suspected to have been poisoned.
