By Yahudu Kitunzi
Grief and shock engulfed residents of Awoja village, Aukot sub-County in Soroti district on Sunday after four brothers got electrocuted while trying to steal transmission wires and two died instantly. Two others were seriously injured.
The East Kyoga regional police spokesperson, SP Ageca Oscar Gregg, confirmed the incident saying they are waiting for a postmortem report before their bodies would be handed over to relatives for burial.
“The Uganda Police Force of the territorial jurisdiction of Soroti district have registered a case of electrocution that led to the death of two individuals that occurred on the night of 27/11/2022 at around 21:20pm,” Ageca said.
Police identified the deceased as Moses Atachu, 28, and Isaac Epou,29; who were blood brothers.
The injured persons are Samuel Esuri, 23, and male Juvenile whose identity has been withheld and have been noted to be cousin brothers from the same village. They are currently admitted at Soroti regional referral hospital.
The Police spokesperson said preliminary findings indicate that the two deceased persons together with another two persons who were seriously injured, were electrocuted while trying to steal a three-phase electric wire transmission line.
Police have since visited the scene, and conveyed the bodies of the deceased persons to Soroti regional referral hospital for postmortem.
“We have noted with concern the increasing theft or attempt thereof electricity installations and would like to appeal to the members of the general public not to engage in theft or vandalism of electricity installations since it’s dangerous and the consequences can be dire,” he said.
