Two minors have died while three others are hospitalized at Bukedea HC IV over alleged food poisoning in Kosoka Village in Bukedea Sub County. The deceased have been identified as Geresem Opio, 6, a pupil at Bukedea Township Primary School and his younger brother, Dan Ochom, 3.
Those hospitalized are Rebecca Ibukunyat, 45, and her two children; Josephine Atim, 18, and a minor of 10 years. Both the deceased and patients are from one family belonging to Paul Omokori and Rebecca Ibukunyat.
It’s alleged that the family ate food laced with poison on Saturday night. Omokori says that one of their neighbours, Kizito Obaye offered his family vegetables for supper while he was away.
“Obaye brought eboo (greens) home claiming that his wife had prepared excess for the family to eat. He said that he didn’t want to waste food and my wife accepted the sauce as she prepared it for supper”, he said. He, however, explained that as soon as the family members ate the food, all of them developed stomach complications and headache leading to the death of the two children.
“When I returned home at night, I found all the family members lying helplessly in the house. I asked my wife who was able to speak a little and she narrated the story on our way to the hospital,” he said.
William Irotot, the Village Chairperson in Kasuko, says that the Police arrested Kizito Obaye but he was surprised when he was released immediately.
“All the evidence at the moment points at Obaye and all we expected from the Police was at least to keep him in custody until the anger here subsidizes. People are very angry and anything can happen to this old man,” he said.
The East Kyoga Police Spokesman, Oscar Gregg Ageca says that they are investigating the matter. When asked why the key suspect in the matter was given police bond within 12 hours, Ageca said that he would respond approximately after consulting with the officers on the ground.
Last year, another family was hospitalized after one of the members died moments after eating food allegedly laced with food poison in Kidongole Sub County. No one has since been arrested in relation to the matter.
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