By Spy Uganda
Kampala: At least 14 people have so far been confirmed dead after consuming a locally made bottle of alcohol called ‘City 5’ in a local bar in Arua city.
Police has thus kicked off investigations after the perished people allegedly took “City 5”, a local gin produced by City 5 distillers in the Ayivu division in Arua City.
According to Josephine Angucia, the West Nile Police spokesperson the deaths started occurring on Friday until Sunday morning while several other victims are still hospitalised.
Angucia further revealed that seven of the deaths occurred in the Mvara and Oluko suburbs of Arua City and seven others died in Madi Okollo District adding that police have made some arrests and cordoned off the manufacturing plant of the gin.
”Immediately after drinking it, they became unconscious and started to die while others passed on in the hospital, ”We have picked samples of the gin which will be taken to the government analytical laboratory in Kampala to ascertain if it is not good for human consumption,” Angucia said.
Angucia identified those who died on spot were identified as Nelson Awuzu, the LC two chairman of Dadawu cell; Isaac Alioni aged 47 years; Dick Edamara; Gordon Tito, a security guard; Titus Awudele and Cosmas Karibu.
The other six, all male, are said to have died later although their identities were not readily available.
At Garia village in Madi Okollo District alone, four people died after allegedly consuming the gin while 13 others are being managed at Inde health centre III.
According to a nurse at the facility who preferred to be anonymous, the patients presented with headaches, backache, restlessness, and difficulties in breathing.
“These people come as if they are going to be okay but their condition worsens from nowhere. They present with headache, backache, and difficulties with breathing,” she said.
The gin parked in 200ml plastic bottles and sold at only UGX 1500 lacks the UNBS quality mark.
