Fear has gripped residents of Kibikke Village in Butuntumula Sub-county, Luweero District, after two people died and another was left critically injured following suspected suffocation from charcoal fumes.
The incident occurred on Tuesday night when the victims reportedly lit a charcoal stove to keep warm while preparing beans. The stove was later moved into the shelter where they were sleeping, leading to the accumulation of toxic fumes believed to have caused their deaths.
The deceased have been identified as Grace Nalubwama, 43, and her brother, Richard Nsobya, 35. A third victim, Saidah Nabbanja, survived with severe injuries and was rushed to Luweero General Hospital, where she is currently receiving treatment.
According to reports, the three are residents of Kyambogo Village in Butuntumula Sub-county. They had traveled to Kibikke Village to weed beans in their garden and had set up a temporary shelter at the site, where they spent the night.
The LC1 Chairperson of Kibikke Village, Abdul Kimuli, said he was alerted by a resident who discovered the victims.
“I found Nabbanja struggling, and she told me her relatives had died during the night. I immediately alerted local authorities,” Kimuli said.
Residents said the victims had initially used the charcoal stove outside but later moved it indoors due to heavy rainfall.
“It rained heavily, forcing them to take the stove inside. Unfortunately, the smoke filled the shelter and suffocated them,” one resident explained.
The Kyambogo Village Chairperson, Dan Kyambadde, said he received information about the deaths at around 8:00 a.m. from police.
“At first, some people thought it was an April Fool’s joke because of the date, but it turned out to be a real tragedy,” Kyambadde said.
The Savannah Region Police Spokesperson, ASP Sam Twiinaemazima, confirmed the incident and said investigations are ongoing to establish the exact cause of death.
“We are investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths, as there are allegations from some members of the public that the victims could have been poisoned,” Twiinaemazima said.
He cautioned the public against the unsafe use of charcoal stoves.
“We strongly warn people against using charcoal stoves indoors. Many lives have been lost, especially among people working in gardens who sleep in temporary shelters,” he added.
The bodies of the deceased have been taken to Luweero General Hospital mortuary for postmortem examination.