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Courtesy photo. By Onzoma Albert Arua City Experts are urging residents of the West Nile region to strictly follow lightning safety measures following a recent surge in lightning strikes. In August 2026, a tragic incident occurred when a lightning strike kille
Courtesy photo.
By Onzoma Albert
Arua City
Experts are urging residents of the West Nile region to strictly follow lightning safety measures following a recent surge in lightning strikes.
In August 2026, a tragic incident occurred when a lightning strike killed six members of a family inside their home in Maracha District.
Many local buildings are structurally vulnerable to electrical storms, prompting public safety organizations and meteorologists to emphasize both immediate behavior changes and long-term structural improvements.
Samson Enguma, a Radio Pacis technician, notes that lightning is an unavoidable natural phenomenon. He encourages the public to adhere to preventive measures designed to reduce the impact of lightning strikes.
“We technicians only put in place preventive measures to minimize adverse effects of lightning, one example is that once you are inside the house please do not touch the wall, lay down, don’t touch metallic objects because lightning uses the metallic part of the house to travel to the ground, our people should avoid being in overcrowded places during lightning and thunderstorms but the truth is we can not control lightning completely but minimize its adverse effects,” he explained.
According to recommendations from the Uganda National Meteorological Authority (UNMA) and safety groups like the African Centre for Lightning and Electromagnetics Network (ACLENet), individuals should seek enclosed shelters—inside fully constructed buildings or hard-topped vehicles—immediately upon hearing thunder.
People outdoors are advised to wear rubber-soled shoes to minimize ground insulation and to unplug electrical appliances and devices before storms arrive.
If caught in an open field, individuals should stay on the balls of their feet and keep their heads tucked to reduce the risk of a lightning strike.
Mary Dawaru, Senior Environment Officer of Arua City, emphasizes the importance of proactive disaster risk mitigation, especially with the approaching El-Nino season from September to December. She urges residents to implement safety measures ahead of heavy rains.
“El Nino rainfall normally comes with thunders storms and lightning and we need to protect ourselves during the time of storms and situations that can expose our people to lightning strikes which is very common during rainy season,” she said.
Experts also advise against sheltering under trees or tall structures, which often attract lightning. People should avoid holding metallic objects such as umbrellas, bicycles, or farming tools during rainfall, stay away from water bodies, and refrain from washing dishes or bathing during storms.
It is also dangerous to seek refuge in open structures like isolated huts or metal-roofed buildings lacking proper lightning protection.
Safety professionals point out that the common phrase “when thunder roars, go indoors” is sometimes insufficient in rural African communities. Many homes are made of grass-thatched or poorly protected bricks, which do not shield against lightning strikes effectively.
Lightning occurs when static electricity builds up inside storm clouds due to crashing ice and water. Once the negative charge within the cloud becomes too strong, it overcomes the air’s insulation and connects with positive charges on the ground, releasing lightning.