There’s panic among communities in Lajwartek village in Pageya parish, in Omoro district, are panicking after consuming pig feeds disguised as sugar.
Labeled 'Brown Sugar,' the product which was bought from a piggery farm in the area belonging to one George Abola and has been in circulation for more than two weeks.
According to locals, a pack containing 5-Kilograms of Sugar was sold between 2000 and 4000 shillings, far below the cost of sugar, now at 5000 Shillings per kilogram. The low cost of the product raised suspicion among leaders who called for investigations into the source of the alleged sugar.
Samples that were tested indicated that the product contained sugar, sand, maggots, grains and other unhygienic elements.
The Farm Manager Paul Bongomin later said that the 'sugar' was illegally sold by casual workers but was not meant for human consumption. He said that the combination is used as a carbohydrate source for pigs.
Koro Sub County chairperson Justine Odong Obiya says Bongomin said the 'sugar' was brought from Elegu border post where it had been impounded by the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA).
Nasur Olanya the Government Internal Security Officer (GISO) for Omoro district says additional samples of the 'sugar' have been taken to the Government Analytical Laboratory for further testing. He says that if the test proves that the product is dangerous for human health; all persons involved in its sale will be prosecuted.