By Weswa Ronnie
BUTEBO
A two-and-a-half-year-old child has died and 22 others were hospitalized after reportedly receiving wrong medication during a routine child health outreach in Butebo District.
The deceased has been identified as Konyami Yese, aged 2 and a half years, son of Nyambi Sadi, resident of Bwase Cell, Kabwangasi Town Council, Butebo District.
According to Wilfred Kyempasa, the Bukedi North region police spokesperson, the incident occurred on 28th October 2026 at 9:00 a.m. when medical workers from Kabwangasi Health Centre III went to Bwase Cell for routine treatment of children under the Integrated Child Health Day (ICHD) outreach.
He says it is alleged that during preparation, Mebendazole tablets intended for administration to children were inadvertently exchanged for Carbamazepine tablets, with each child reportedly receiving 5 tablets.
Carbamazepine is an anticonvulsant and mood-stabilizing medication primarily used to treat three main conditions especially Epilepsy (Seizure Disorders): It controls and prevents certain types of seizures, including partial seizures (with complex symptomatology) and generalized tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures.
Kyempasa also says about 11:00 a.m., children who had taken the tablets began developing drowsiness. Some were rushed to Kabwangasi Health Centre III. All the 23 affected children were admitted and treated, and were later rushed to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital for further management and monitoring.
At around 3:00 a.m. on 29th October 2026, one child died. The body was carried back by relatives to Kabwangasi Health Centre, where they reportedly attacked health workers, forced them to flee, and dumped the body at the facility.
Police, led by the District Police Commander, were notified and proceeded to the scene, calmed the chaotic situation, and conveyed the body to Mbale City Mortuary for postmortem examination.
A case has been registered at Butebo Police Station under reference BTB GEF 12/2026 with inquiries continuing and further developments will be communicated.
