As local leaders were still struggling, looking for how to help the vulnerable poor in their district during this period of quarantine and curfew, a man in the Eastern district of Luuka has allegedly starved to death.
In his small house, Lwenda Waiswa Amigo of Nawantale village in Bukanga Sub County lived alone since his wife divorced him and went with their four children about a year ago. Amigo was surviving on handouts from well wishers and his younger brother, Isa Kafeero.
Kafeero’s daughter, Shamina Namuddu told reporters that her uncle was last seen two days ago only to hear from the neighbours today that he had died from his house.
“Two days ago, my father left us with Shs2000 and told us to give it to him (the deceased) so that he could buy some food. But we failed to see him. We thought he had gone either in a bar or somewhere until today when a bad smell was coming from his house and when police came, they found him dead,” she said.
There was nothing like food found in Lwenda’s house apart from a couple of empty tins of waragi and dirty plates.
George Kagweri, the LC III chairman of Bukanga Sub County warned the residents to use the available food sparingly and to always share with the vulnerable poor in their neighborhood.
“Maama Minister (for Presidency, Esther Mbayo), we are aware that government stopped you (politicians) from giving out food but I urge you to use all possible means to help us with food otherwise we shall lose more people,” he appealed.
Kagweri also asked married couples to stop the habit of divorcing, saying had Lwenda’s wife not abandoned her, he would have maybe not starved to death.
Eagle Online could not establish whether at Bukanga police post where Lwenda’s demise was reported the cause of his death was recorded as starvation. But the Officer in Charge this police post, Nathan Kasala Kasiba told mourners that “since you are all saying that Waiswa (Lwenda) died of a natural death, we have as police allowed you to bury.”
Some residents who asked not to be named told us that the deceased, who had suffered with severe social anxiety, had cut himself off from family and friends.
“And during this period (of quarantine) it is not easy to find someone who can give you food. Everyone is saving for their families,” one woman said.
