A devastating lightning strike hit a church in Palabek Refugee Settlement’s Zone 8, Block 2, on Saturday evening, claiming the lives of 14 people on the spot.

The incident occurred at Palabek Refugee Settlement in the north-west of the country.
The area has recently seen heavy rains with thunder and lightning.

Kituuma Rusoke, spokesperson for Uganda Police, told our reporter that the adult killed on Saturday was 21 years old. Mr Rusoke did not reveal the exact ages of the children who died.

Palabek Refugee Settlement is home to more than 80,000 refugees and asylum seekers, according to the UN’s refugee agency. Many are from neighbouring South Sudan.

Four years ago, lightning killed 10 children in the city of Arua, also in north-western Uganda.

The children were struck while taking a break from a game of football.