By Alexander Mackey Okori
A pall of gloom has descended on Naputir village, Loletio sub-county in Kotido district following a tragic incident, which has left six children dead and 27 others hospitalized after consuming wild poisonous mushrooms.
The deceased children aged between three and fourteen years are from two families.
They have been identified as Lomele Aluka,10, Moses Lokwale, 3, Agnes Golu, 14 , Lilian Achia, 3, Veronica Longok, 4, and Lowo Anyese, 3.
Gabriel Nangiro, the health educator attached to Panyangara Health Centre III, said the deaths were recorded between Monday June 2 and Tuesday June 3, 2025.
He revealed that the first victim tragically passed away upon arrival at the health facility on Monday, while others died at Kotido General Hospital.
Nangiro added that out of 23 survivors, 10 are in critical condition while 17 are stable.
“Those in critical condition have been transferred to Kotido General Hospital for further medical attention, while those in a fair condition are being managed both at home and in clinics,” Nangiro stated.
He explained that both the deceased and survivors presented symptoms such as headaches, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea among others.
Mariana Nakong, who lost her child and maid, said that the tragic event began unfolding on Friday when her child and the maid prepared and ate wild mushrooms while she was in the garden.
She added that upon her return home, the children showed her the remaining mushrooms, which she then prepared for supper.
Nakong narrated that moments after the meal, children started vomiting and having diarrhea while she suffered a throbbing headache.
“I didn’t take it seriously, thinking that it was malaria. On Saturday, I took the child to Panyangara Health Centre III, unfortunately, the child passed away on arrival to the health facility,” she recounted.
Nakong, who is still having a throbbing headache said the deceased were all burried on Monday.
In the second home, Lomaria Lolim, the LCI chairperson of Naputir village, said that the parents left the children at home alone with weak elders without food as they went to attend a wedding ceremony in Rengen sub-county.
“The children decided to go to the nearby bushes to pick wild mushrooms due to hunger but instead ended up losing their lives,” said Lolim.
Jane Atim, the in-charge of Panyangara Health Centre III, said the children were delayed for treatment by their parents.
She added that the victims were brought to the facility in a critical condition and that the parents didn’t open up to the health workers about what had happened.
Atim called on residents and local authorities to coordinate closely with health workers to monitor, collect, and promptly report health emergencies.
Meanwhile, Tonny Achuma, the Kotido District Surveillance Focal point Person, said that they have picked samples for testing at the National Analytical Laboratory in Wandegeya.
He added that 10 more people were picked from the village on Wednesday morning for treatment after presenting with similar signs and symptoms.
The 10 people add to the eight already admitted at Kotido General Hospital and Panyangara Health Centre III.
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