ZOMBO: GOSPEL ARTIST, WIFE AND CHILD SURVIVE ANOTHER FIRE ACCIDENT

By Mike Rwothomio
 
Zombo
 
Three people including a baby are nursing serious burns after fumes from petrol they were storing in their semi-permanent house was ignited by a cooker.
 
The October 19, 2024 deeply distressing incident occurred at Otheko Parish, Paidha Sub-County, Zombo district.
 
The victims that include a couple and their baby, who are all admitted in critical condition at Nebbi General Hospital.
 
One of the victims has been identified as Alan Oyirwoth, a prominent gospel artist in west-Nile Sub-region.
 
Radio Pacis has learnt that properties worth millions of shillings were also lost in the semi-permanent structure.
 
In an interview, on his sickbed at Nebbi General Hospital on October 22, 2024, Oyirwoth with deep regret said, the incident occurred at around 8:00PM, when he was emptying 20littres of petroleum from a Jerry can to another.
 
"We had a 20-littre Jerry can of petrol in our house, I was trying to pour the oil into another Jerry can, and you know there was a stove at a distance, but I don’t even know how the fire was ignited but all of a sudden, the whole house was in flames," Oyirwoth said.
He added that, "I immediately escaped but upon learning that my wife and the child were inside, I went back to rescue them when the whole house was in flames, we came out together  though I got injured, my wife and child  were badly injured and are in serious conditions, but we thank God for saving our lives." 
 
On the properties, he said, "I learnt later that we lost all our properties in the house, even my phone that I can use to connect with people is gone." 
 
An eyewitness said that, "the fire started at around 8:00pm on October 22, 2024 and it caught all of us unaware."
 
The area LCI chairperson recounted that, "we first rushed them to Otheko Health center III, but later they were referred to Nebbi General Hospital."
 
Paramedics from Nebbi General Hospital are working on the victims. Oyirwoth is out of danger, but the condition of his wife and the child remain critical.
 
The LCIII chairperson of Paidha Sub-County William Okethi, advised locals to always take extreme care when handling and storing petrol in their houses and garages.
 
The chairperson of Paidha Zombo Gospel Association Grison Openjmungu, called for prayers and financial support to their member.
 
"I see this is a trying moment. As always, we shall come together to see that we stand with him now and even afterwards. We have all been shocked by it but as servants of God, we are continuing with prayers for him and the family. I urge that we all keep praying for them. This shows how together we are, “Openjmungu, who visited the victims in Nebbi General Hospital on October 22, said in a statement.
 
Apparently, the Country is awash with news of the October 22, 2024 3:00pm fuel tanker explosion that left 11 people dead, in the suburb of Kigogwa in the Capital Kampala's northern outskirts, along Kampala- Gulu highway.
 
Several people have sustained serious injuries and are received treatment in various health facilities.