Police have identified the six people who were killed after lightning struck in Maracha District

Police have identified the six people who were killed after lightning struck their grass-thatched house in Maracha District.

The deceased are Ondirikoa Geoffrey, 37, his wife Enyaru Harriet, 30, and their four children: Patience Desire, 11, Jovia Lenia, 9, Ayikoru Blessing, 7, and Jilda Mata, 1.

The incident occurred at about 5:00 a.m. on Saturday in Nyanza Cell, Central Ward, Oleba Town Council.

According to West Nile Regional Police Spokesperson SSP Josephine Angucia, the incident was reported by Alule Anthony, a 64-year-old peasant farmer and resident of the area.

Police said the family was asleep when lightning struck the house, igniting a fire after a loud clap of thunder.

Angucia said Candiru Juliet, who lives in the same homestead, had stepped outside when she noticed the house on fire. She alerted Ondirikoa’s father, and together they rushed to the scene, where they found the couple and their four children burnt to death beyond recognition, along with their household property.

A police team visited and documented the scene, recorded statements from first responders and relatives, while the Regional Police Surgeon conducted postmortem examinations.

The bodies were later handed over to the family for burial.

Police said there were no signs of foul play, and preliminary findings indicate the family died after being struck by lightning.

Maracha Death Enquiry File No. 007/2026 has been opened for further investigations.