Detectives at Arua CPS have arrested four suspects in connection to the death of 12 people who consumed a suspected poisonous local brew known as City5 gin.
Josephine Angucia the PRO West Nile Region identifies the suspects as Inzikuru Rose 40yrs, Cadribo Philliam 28yrs, Adule Gideon 45yrs all residents of Kasua cell, Pokea ward, Ayivu West division, Arua City where the City5 gin is manufactured.
The fourth suspect is Norman Godfrey the owner of the Kiosk where the waragi was being sold but he was released on bond pending investigations.
Six people died in Madi Okollo but Angucia says their names are yet to be confirmed, while 18 others were rushed to Arua Regional Referral Hospital for treatment and are still admitted but their conditions are stabilizing.
Arua CPS registered six deaths and one case which was reported and rushed for treatment at the Regional Referral Hospital improved and was discharged. This brings the number of deceased persons to 12.
They reportedly developed complications after drinking a locally manufactured waragi labelled as City 5, Pineapple Flavored Gin.
The incidents were registered on the 20th and 21st of August 2022 at Arua Central Police Station in Arua City and Ogoko Police Station in Madi-Okollo district respectively.
The bodies were conveyed to Arua Regional Referral Hospital for postmortem
Meanwhile, the owner of the shop that sold out the drink in Geria village, Yachi parish, Ogoko sub-county in Madi Okollo district is among those rushed to the hospital for treatment after the alleged intoxication.
The six people who died in Arua City are identified as Awuzu Nelson 50 years, Alioni Isaac 47years, Edemara Dick 43 years, Tito Gordon 51 years, Titus Awudele 51 years and Karibu Cosmas 53 years.
The six who died in Madi-Okollo are Ofuti Charles, Angutoko Gilbert, Anguzu, Wolo, Toko, and Lemiya Valentino with 18 victims admitted to the hospital.
Angucia urged members of the public to remain calm and report other similar suspected incidents to the police for investigation. She also cautioned them against drinking, selling or manufacturing of City 5 Gin until the investigations are over.
“We advise Manufacturers of such local drinks to abide by the guidelines of UNBS before making supplies to the public, on the other hand, members of the public should be keen enough to check for the official Logo of UNBS on drinks before selling and consuming in order to prevent such deadly occurrences,” said Angucia.
