Unknown people have vandalized lightning arresters installed in at least 10 schools in Lira Municipality last year.
More than ten thousand pupils studying in the government aided primary schools are now at high risk.
Early this year, following rampant cases of lightning strikes in different parts of the country, the Lira district officials installed lightning arrestors in all the 19 primary schools within Lira municipality.
A lightning arrester is a device installed on buildings and telecommunications systems to protect the insulation and conductors of the system from the damaging effects of lightning. The typical lightning arrester has a high-voltage terminal and a ground terminal.
But now about 10 schools are operating without the gadgets after they were reportedly vandalized and stolen by unknown of people.
The affected schools include Ambalal, Erute, Elia-Olet, Otim Tom, Nancy, Ireda, Railways, Starch Factory, Lira Army, and Lira primary schools. The one at Lira primary was stolen on Saturday night. Each of the equipments costs about 3.5 million shillings.
Frances Jayne Offungi, Lira municipal principal education officer, told URN on Monday that the installation of the equipment cost about 67 million shillings, in the entire 19 schools and was funded by Peace, Recovery, and Development Plan (PRDP).
Offungi said after the installation of the equipment she started receiving reports of the mysterious vandalism and theft.
She wondered why those installed in residential homes are not being vandalised.
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Lira district acting District Police Commander Patrick Mawerere said police have received the case and investigation of ongoing.
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Godfrey Dila, Lira primary school head teacher, said they tried following the footsteps of those suspected to have vandalised the equipment but could not get the suspects.
At least 45 people were killed in different cases of lightning strikes reported in the country last year. One of the worst cases took place at Runyaanya Primary school in Kiryandongo district, where at least 21 pupils were struck dead on June 28. On November 24, another 40 pupils were struck and critically injured in Kyenzige primary school in Kyenzige Sub County Kibaale district.
