Two Children Electrocuted in Masindi as Illegal Power Connections Turn Deadly

Grief has engulfed Southern Cell in Masindi Municipality after two children, aged between one and four years, died in a tragic electrocution incident on Monday afternoon.

How the Tragedy Happened

The children were reportedly playing near a furniture workshop around midday when they came into contact with a live wire that had been illegally connected to a metallic door. The crude connection, believed to have been installed by a tenant at the premises, instantly turned the door into a death trap.

The victims belonged to the family of a local teacher, and their sudden deaths have left the community reeling in shock. Residents say the accident could have been avoided if proper safety standards had been followed.

Community in Shock

Local leaders rushed to the scene, expressing sorrow over the double tragedy and calling for heightened vigilance against illegal power connections. The area chairperson described the incident as “a painful wake-up call” for residents who often ignore the dangers posed by unauthorized wiring.

Police have since cordoned off the workshop as investigations continue, and the tenant suspected to have carried out the illegal wiring is being pursued.

A Growing Problem

This is not an isolated case. Across Uganda, illegal electricity connections have been blamed for frequent electrocution incidents, property damage, and even fires. The practice is driven largely by high connection costs, slow processing for legal access, and limited public awareness about the risks.

Unfortunately, it is often the most vulnerable, especially children, who pay the highest price when live wires are left exposed or poorly insulated.

The Masindi incident has once again reignited calls for stricter enforcement against illegal power users, community education to help people identify and report risky connections, and affordable and safer access to electricity so that households and small businesses are not tempted into dangerous shortcuts.

For Masindi Municipality, the loss of two innocent lives has left scars that will take a long time to heal. It is also a reminder that beyond legal penalties, there is a human cost to unsafe practices. Unless urgent measures are taken to curb illegal connections, tragedies like this may continue to claim lives.