Govt examines Karuma water amid reported mass poisoning

Experts at the government laboratory in Kampala are today expected to analyse the quality of water serving an estimated 5,000 people in Karuma Trading Centre, Kiryandongo District, after a Chinese national allegedly claimed he had poisoned the source before hanging himself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr Tarsis Byamugisha, the commissioner government laboratories, said yesterday the Energy ministry officials contacted them for help once the news broke out traumatising residents.
“True, we have received a call from the Energy ministry asking us to be part of a water sampling exercise at Karuma. We sent two water analysts and we hope to do the testing tomorrow (today),” Mr Byamugisha said.

Yuding Yong, who was the manager for water treatment plant with the Chinese firm Sinohydro Corporation Ltd that is constructing Karuma hydro dam, hanged himself last week. In accounts to this newspaper, co-workers said the deceased left a suicide note in which he encouraged them to seek treatment within 21 days or die from poisoning.

“He asked those whom he wronged to forgive him,” Mr Bright Bulega, a co-worker, said.
Although the alleged suicide note did not specify the type of the contagion, local leaders and central government representatives were by press time working on the assumption that the alleged adulteration was likely excessive chlorine concentration.

Chlorine in regulated quantities, an average of 0.2–1 miligram/litre, is ordinarily used to disinfect contaminated water, but an abundance could trigger asthma and dermatitis (skin disease), according to the World Health Organisation).

Daily Monitor

UM– USEKE.RW