Police in Kakumiro District are conducting an investigation into the tragic incident where a 26-year-old primary school teacher lost his life due to electrocution early on Friday morning at a grasshopper trapping site. James Kirungi, a teacher at Blessed Adolf Kolping Kindergarten (BAKEF), met his untimely demise around 3 am when he ventured to a trapping site in Kakumiro town East Cell.
Eyewitnesses reported that Kirungi accidentally came into contact with a live wire that was improperly connected to a high voltage line, leading to his immediate death.
Kakumiro District Police Commander, SP Morris Niyonzima, disclosed, “There was a faulty power connection at the trapping site, and when an individual, identified as a teacher, touched the wire, he was electrocuted.”
As part of the investigation, the police apprehended Mr. Tadeo Asaba, the vice chairperson of Kakumiro town council and owner of the grasshopper trapping site. SP Niyonzima urged grasshopper trappers to register with the town council administration and security for their safety, adding, “We are collaborating with Umeme to disconnect all illegally connected grasshopper trapping sites around town.”
The head teacher of BAKEF, Mr. Asumpto Kahiira, recounted that neighbors discovered Kirungi at the site, and despite their efforts to rush him to the hospital, it was unfortunately too late to save his life. He further explained that Kirungi had gone to the site at 3 am to harvest grasshoppers, intending to send them to his parents in Kagadi District, as revealed by relatives present at the scene.