Deadly waragi kills 12 people in Arua City, Madi-Okollo

BY ANDREW COHEN AMVESI

ARUA. A total of 12 people have died after drinking a locally manufactured waragi dubbed ‘City 5 Pineapple flavored Gin,’ police has confirmed. 

In a message this morning, Josephine Angucia, the North Western police mouthpiece said the dead are residents of Arua City and Madi Okollo district.

“These incidents were registered on 20th and 21st August 2022 at Arua Central Police Station in Arua City and Ogoko police station in Madi-okollo district respectively. Each territorial police team visited the scene of crime, conveyed the bodies to Arua regional referral hospital for postmortem, meanwhile those suspected to have been intoxicated were rushed to the same hospital for treatment,” Angucia said.

She added that police have cordoned off the place for manufacturing the Waragi in Luluwiri Kasua cell, Pajulu ward, Arua City pending investigations.

Angucia said samples were picked from the places of sale and manufacturing to be submitted to the Government Chemist for analysis. 

“Four suspects so far, have been arrested from places of drinking and manufacturing to assist in investigations. 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. General inquiries have been opened at the two police stations to investigate these incidents,” Angucia stressed. 

She identified the six people who died of the same waragi in Arua City as Nelson Awuzu, 50, Isaac Alioni, 47, Dick Edemara, 43, Gordon Tito, 51, Titus Awudele, 51, and Cosmas Karibu, 53.

Meanwhile the other six who died in Madi-okollo are Charles Ofuti, Gilbert Angutoko, Valentino Lemiya, Anguzu, Wolo and Toko.

The PRO said at least 20 victims are still receiving treatment at Arua regional referral hospital after taking the City 5 waragi.

“We urge members of the public to remain calm and report other similar suspected incidents to police for investigations and they are advised not to drink, sell and manufacture City 5 Gin for now till 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 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 incidences,” Angucia advised.