A least cancer 100 cases are diagnosed at Uganda’s Cancer Institute Hospital in Kampala and other hospitals around the country every day.
Transformer oil is stolen from transformers and used in preparing food in some restaurants
“We are overwhelmed by the increasing number of cancer cases in the country,” George Okware, a cancer expert in the ministry of health, said.
“We have information that some people are eating food prepared with transformer oil and that could be the reason why the cancer cases are on the rise.”
Arguing that it was a matter of national importance before parliament on Thursday evening, Kajara county legislator, Michael Kamugisha said there was an increase in the theft of transformer oil.
“Transformer oil is stolen from transformers and used in preparing food in some restaurants, which is dangerous to the health of people who eat that food,” he said.
Kamugisha voiced his dissatisfaction with a recent court ruling in eastern Uganda, where four men, who were found guilty of stealing transformers oil, were each sentenced to five years in prison and called for stiffer sentences for such offenders.
“The oil from the stolen transformers is used for cooking food in hotels and restaurants,” he said.
Senior police officer, Douglas Kasozi, said that in the last year over 200 transformers have been stolen but only 10 people suspected to be involved have been arrested.
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