In the western Ugandan town of Arua, bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo, 12 people died over the weekend after drinking a gin without a license. A police spokeswoman confirmed today that another 20 people were taken to hospital but are now stabilised. The first cases of alcohol poisoning appeared on Friday and continued throughout the weekend.
The exact cause of death has not yet been clarified. The police explained that gin was particularly tough. Samples of the spirit were sent to a laboratory in Kampala for further testing. The distillery has since been closed and several of those responsible have been arrested.
Similar incidents are not uncommon in the East African country of around 46 million people. Alcohol is comparatively expensive in Uganda. Half a liter of beer costs about a US dollar. The poorest population, in particular, is therefore shifting to unlicensed, sometimes life-threatening, alternatives.