By Swift Reporter
A 23-year-old footballer has died after lightning struck a football pitch during a parish tournament in Buwama Town Council, Mpigi District.
The deceased, identified as Andrew Makubuya, reportedly died on the spot after lightning struck the Bongole playing field, where a football match was underway.
Another player was also affected by the lightning strike and was rushed to Gombe Hospital in critical condition for medical attention.
The incident occurred during a football tournament organised by Mitala Maria Catholic Parish as part of preparations for the parish Youth Day celebrations.
According to one of the coaches who witnessed the incident, Aloysius Ssekate, the match between the Majja and Mbizzinnya outstation church teams was being played while it was drizzling.
Ssekate said lightning suddenly struck in the middle of the pitch, knocking down several players.
He said most of those affected eventually regained consciousness, but Makubuya and another player remained down.
“Those who were struck got up one by one but the two players did not get up and we rushed them to hospital where it was confirmed that the Majja player had passed away,” Ssekate said.
The death has since forced organisers to suspend the tournament, which had been scheduled to run until September 18.
Fr Nicholas Mukwaya, the parish youth leader, said all remaining matches have been cancelled following the tragedy.
The parish has also called off the planned Youth Day celebrations and will instead hold a special Mass to pray for Makubuya and comfort his family, teammates and the wider Catholic community.
The tragedy comes as the government warns Ugandans to exercise increased caution during the September to December rainy season, which is expected to bring heightened risks of lightning and other extreme weather events in several parts of the country.
In its seasonal climate outlook issued on August 31, the Ministry of Water and Environment projected near-normal to above-normal rainfall across most parts of Uganda between September and December.
The ministry said rainfall could start late in some areas before becoming more intense, with the peak expected between late October and November. In several parts of the country, the rainy season could extend into January 2027.
Mpigi District, located within the Central and Western Lake Victoria region, is among areas forecast to experience above-normal rainfall.
According to the government outlook, steady rains in the region are expected from mid to late September, with the peak rainfall period projected between mid-October and mid-November.
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