Somber mood engulfed Karamoja region of Uganda after two people were reported death and 30 others Hospitalized after consuming what is suspected to be poisoned porridge supplied from from the World Food Programme.
Th first victim was reported to have died on Saturday in Amudat District with the second victim passing on Sunday afternoon at Karita Health Centre III, Napak District.
Mr Joseph Lomonyang, the Napak District chairperson identified the person who died on Sunday as 40-year-old Nate Sagal, a resident of Lomote village. According to Uganda RedCross Society, the victims appeared to have suffered mental disorders.
Last week on Tuesday, WFP distributed Super Cereal porridge, sugar and cooking oil to 120 families at Alakas health centre II in Amudat district. However a day after, nine people were admitted at Amudat hospital with symptoms of high fever and mental confusion.
On Saturday, more people with suspected food poisoning were also reportedly admitted at Lotome health centre in Napak district – a day after receiving the food aid. Other people including children were admitted to Karita and Lokales health centres in Amudat district.
Super Cereal is provided by WFP through 44 government health centres across the Karamoja sub region and aims to improve nutrition among pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children aged between 6 and 59 months in order to prevent stunting.
WFP through a statement said; with government, they are investigating and have submitted samples of Super Cereal for laboratory tests to determine whether there is a link between eating blended food and people falling sick after distributions.
Meanwhile, the State Minister for Disaster Preparedness, Mr Musa Ecweru said on Sunday that they are concerned about the development.
“Government is seriously concerned about the food that was supplied by UN World Food programme to the people of Karamoja. We are working hard to get to the root cause of the problem,” he said.
WFP which has been the lead agency in fighting hunger in Karamoja, on Tuesday last week distributed the porridge flour to 120 households but several people who prepared and ate the porridge, suffered stomach upsets while others fainted moments later.
