Bugweri, Uganda: Four children died on Friday after a violent storm accompanied by a heavy downpour flattened a house in Nkombe village, Buyanga Sub-county, in Bugweri District, triggering fresh calls for vigilance as the rainy season intensifies across the country.
The tragedy occurred when strong winds ripped off the roof and caused the mud-and-wattle walls of the house to collapse on the children as they sheltered inside. Three of the children died instantly, while the fourth succumbed to injuries shortly after being rushed to a nearby health centre.
The deceased were identified as Mutesi Rashida, Nangobi Shifrah and Nantambi Sumin, while the fourth child had not been formally identified by press time. All were daughters of Ntambi Twahir, a resident of the same area, and were aged between three and twelve years.
Local residents said the house was occupied by at least seven people, including the parents, when the storm struck.
One of the first responders, Mwase Ismael, also known as Obbo, said the storm was sudden and violent. “There was a very strong wind in the downpour. The roof was blown off and the walls collapsed on the children,” he said.
Residents reported that the parents and other occupants struggled to escape as the structure gave way, but the children were trapped under the debris.
The LC1 chairperson of Nkombe village, Mukama Bruhan Ntambi, who is also the grandfather of the deceased children, said he rushed to police immediately after receiving the report.
Police later visited the scene and confirmed the incident, although an official statement had not yet been issued by press time.
Menya Moses, another resident, confirmed that the fourth child died shortly after being admitted to the health facility.
As heavy rains continue to pound large parts of the country, local leaders have urged communities to take precautionary measures, especially in areas with weak housing structures.
Residents have been advised to vacate buildings in poor condition that are likely to collapse during storms and to seek safer shelter during extreme weather.
The Buyanga Sub-county Youth Chairperson, Kitandwe Hussein, called on the public and government authorities to support the affected family.
“This is a very painful loss. The community and government should come in to help the family with immediate support,” he said, adding that some of the surviving children require care.
The incident adds to a growing number of weather-related fatalities reported during the current rainy season, raising concerns about housing safety and disaster preparedness in rural communities.
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