A cloud of sorrow hangs over Bumbirwe village in Budaka district after the sudden and tragic death of Florence Baluka, a 49-year-old peasant woman, who lost her life under mysterious and heartbreaking circumstances. The mother and community member was allegedly poisoned after consuming local brew and roasted soya beans at a bar, leaving her family and neighbors in shock and grief.
On the evening of July 5, 2025, Florence left her home to sell roasted soya beans at Stella’s Bar, a small local gathering spot in the village. What began as an ordinary night quickly turned into a nightmare. According to witnesses, Florence was joined by friends, and they shared drinks of waragi (local brew) late into the night.
By 9:00 p.m., Florence began feeling unwell, her body swaying unsteadily. A concerned friend, Namulalaka, helped her home, where her condition worsened. She started vomiting uncontrollably before collapsing. Despite desperate efforts to save her, Florence died shortly after, leaving her family in utter devastation.
The Bukedi North Region Police Spokesperson, Wilfred Kyepasa, confirmed that authorities swiftly responded to the scene. A case file (Kamonkoli CRB 057/2025) was opened, and forensic experts examined the bar where Florence had been drinking. Samples of the local brew and empty bottles were taken for toxicology analysis, while Florence’s body was moved to Mbale Hospital for a postmortem to determine the exact cause of death.
So far, three individuals have been arrested to aid in investigations. Police are working to uncover whether Florence’s death was a result of foul play, contaminated brew, or deliberate poisoning. The tight-knit village is now gripped by fear and suspicion as residents wonder if someone among them could have committed such a cruel act.
Florence Baluka was not just a peasant woman—she was a pillar of her family, a hardworking mother who struggled daily to provide for her loved ones. Her sudden and painful death has left her children and relatives inconsolable.
“She left home healthy, only to return lifeless,” wept a family member who wished to remain anonymous. “We demand justice. If someone did this to her, they must pay.”
Neighbors described Florence as a kind, hardworking woman who sold roasted soya beans to make ends meet. Her death has not only robbed a family of their beloved but has also shaken the entire village, where such incidents are rare.
As police continue their investigation, the community is pleading for answers. Was Florence’s death a tragic accident due to contaminated alcohol, or was it a deliberate act of murder? Until the postmortem and toxicology reports are released, the village remains in mourning, clinging to the hope that justice will be served.
For now, Bumbirwe village weeps for Florence Baluka—a life taken too soon, under circumstances too cruel to fathom
