Grief has struck a family in Mbale after two minors from the same family were electrocuted over the weekend.
Mother of the deceased identifies them as five - year-old Siraj Womukore and his 15-year-old brother, Emma Mukhosi, both pupils of Busimba Primary school in Mooni village in Mudodo parish in Bungokho Sub County in Mbale district.
The mother, Fatina Mutonyi, says the minors were electrocuted by an illegal connection. Their aunt, Sylvia Mutonyi who witnessed the incident says Womukore was playing with another child in the compound when he stepped on a naked electricity cable that had fallen on the ground.
Mutonyi adds that, Mukhosi rushed to save his sibling who was lying on the ground and was also electrocuted. However, the deceased's mother tipped off police after relatives hurriedly buried Womukore's body.
"When the incident happened the five-year-old boy was immediately buried while the body of the 15-year- old boy is still missing," she said.
One of the residents of Bungokho who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the number of people dying by electrocution in the district is high, and that most of the victims are buried secretly to avoid repercussions because of the illegal power connections.
In 2015, Police investigations indicated that at least 13 people were electrocuted in the Mt Elgon sub-region each week due to illegal power connections, with six cases registered in Mbale District alone.
Mbale District Police Commander, Stephen Ahweera says there are many illegal power connections in Bugisu region. He however, says they have intensified operations together with Umeme officials targeting those behind the vice.
Elgon region has been singled out as one of the areas with the highest illegal power connections following by Greater Masaka region.
Umeme says they are still investigating the incident.
