23/08/2022
🛑BREAKING NEWS
POLICE CLOSE WARAGI FACTORY AFTER 12 DIE
Police in Arua have closed the factory which manufactures a locally distilled gin, following the death of 12 people.They died in separate intervals after consuming the local potent that is said to have been intoxicated.
West Nile regional police spokesperson, Ms Josephine Angucia, said 13 others remain admitted to various health centres.She said preliminary investigations indicate that they registered various incidents between August 20 and 21 at Arua Central Police Station in Arua City and Ogoko Police Station in Madi-Okollo district, respectively.
“Each territorial police team visited the scene of crime and conveyed the bodies to Arua Regional Referral Hospital for post-mortem. The police cordoned off the place where the gin is manufactured pending investigations. Samples were picked from the places of sale and manufacturing, to be submitted to the government chemist for analysis,” she said.
So far, four suspects have been arrested from the drinking and manufacturing places to assist with investigations.The owner of the company is said to be on the run.
One of the survivors, Mr Alija Andiku said that he was shocked to learn that two of his friends died shortly after taking the gin.Mr Andiku, who is a teacher, said they were asked to test the gin during a company promotion at the trading centre.
Police released names of the seven people who died who included Awuzu, Isaac Alioni, 47, Edemara Dick, 43, Gordon Tito, 51, Titus Awudele and Cosmas Karibu, 53.The six, who died in Madi-Okollo, are Charles Ofuti, Gilbert Angutoko, Anguzu, Wolo, Toko and Valentino Lemiya.
The alleged gin is packaged in 200ml plastic bottles and sold at Shs1,000. The ingredients as labelled include demineralised water, extra natural alcohol and pineapple flavour.
However, the bottle lacks the quality certification mark from Uganda National Bureau of Standards.