Police in Pakwach district is investigating the death of two people an after eating suspected poisonous cassava.
Seven other people are currently hospitalized at Pakwach Health centre IV over the same. Now, the victims are all members of the same family, and residents of Ragem West village, Wadelai Sub-County Pakwach district are said to have fed on the poisonous cassava on Wednesday morning.
Frank Muzoora the Pakwach District Police Commander identified the deceased as Mercy Afoyorwoth, a 9-year-old pupil of Paten Primary school and 11-year old Sheebah Giramia, a primary one pupil of Alii Ragem Primary School who passed on by 1 pm on Wednesday.
The children’s father Robert Oketcha says they were all rushed to Pakwach Health Centre IV where he also told journalists that they identified an unusual smell from the food which he had been served, as soon as he returned home.
However, his eight children ate the suspected poisonous cassava bread in the morning, and two of them died.
Richard Ngos Veve the Wadelai Sub-County LC III chairperson expressed his grief towards the sudden death of the family members and called for calm among the community members.
According to the district health Officer Dr Paul Ajal, samples have been dispatched to the Central Government laboratory in Kampala for examination.
Dr. Ajal appealed to community members to closely monitor the food they eat as some foods could easily be affected by bacteria due to poor handling.
The Pakwach District Police Commander Muzoora says investigations are ongoing.
