Fact-check: This picture is not of a house found in Jinja, Eastern Uganda

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The picture shows a house found on Riat Hills, along the Kisumu-Kakamega highway in Kenya, and has been on the internet since 2020.

Writer: Jibi Moses

A picture making rounds on the internet, claiming to be found in Jinja and built by a Kadama, is false. The picture, which was posted by Klia Media.ug on September 7, 2023, claims to show a building purportedly built by a  Kadama who works in Saudi Arabia and that she built it in Jinja, Eastern Uganda.

“Another KADAMA from Saudi Arabia, abikoze. 3 year contract in Saudi, congs Racheal from Jinja,” The post reads in part. Kadama is a slang term commonly used in Uganda, referring to someone who works in the Middle East—mainly the causal labourers and housekeepers.

Therefore, the translated post loosely means, “Another causal worker from Saudi Arabia has done it—a 3-year contract in Saudi Arabia. Congratulations, Racheal, from Jinja.”

We also see that the same page recently posted a picture of a house and attributed it to Aisha, who he says works in Saudi Arabia as a kadama. 

The post attracted 208 reactions, 51 comments, and nine shares in 24 hours. However, some comments were critical of the poster and raised suspicion, prompting 211 Check to investigate.

A screenshot of the post by Klia Media.ug.

Investigation:

A Google Reverse Image Search confirms some of the facts in the comments, as the results come with the headline, Kisumu Highway House. Bing also has the same picture, explaining its location on Kisumu Highway.

On July 30, 2020, Afande Rafiki posted this picture on his Facebook profile, followed by a caption explaining the building on Riat Hills.

 The haunted home at Riat Hills, along the Kisumu-Kiboswa-Kakamega road It belongs to a single lady. The home, abandoned since 2014 due to incessant robbery attacks, sits in an area literally known as “The Gangster Paradise”. partially read his caption.

A screenshot of the post on Afande Rafiki 

Willie Oeba, on June 11, 2021, on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, tweeted this picture with a caption in the form of a question, “Where in Kenya is this house?”

On February 19, 2022, Malley tweeted this picture on X (formerly Twitter) with the caption, “This must be the most talked about house in Kenya.” His tweet attracted 905 reposts, 109 quotes, 9010 likes, and 104 bookmarks.

A Google Word Search for the words “a haunted house along Kisumu-Kakamega highway”  brought multiple results of the same picture of the house and different but related headlines, all explaining it is in Kenya, in Riat Hills, along Kisumu-Kakamega highway.

Many sites have reported on this house in the picture since 2020; some of them are here,   here, here, and here. As much as all the evidence shows that this house is in Kenya, there is no clear evidence to prove its owner.

Conclusion:

211 Check has found the claim that the picture of a house circulating on social media is found in Jinja and was built by a Kadama to be false. This image shows a house found on Riat Hills along the Kisumu-Kakamega highway in Kenya and has been on the internet since 2020.

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

It’s vital to fight misinformation and disinformation in the media by avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter

Fact-check: Did this plane crash in Munuki Miya Saba?

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No, the incident happened in Malawi.

Writer: Beatrice Amude Paulino

A post shared on Facebook on 25 August 2023 claims that an aircraft overturned in Munuki Miya Saba, a local neighbourhood in Juba, South Sudan, but this is false. 

The post is accompanied by an image of an overturned plane in an open field with onlookers nearby. 

Screenshot of the Facebook post by Yei town celebrity gossip

211 Check Investigation:

According to a Google Reverse Image Search, the image was first published on August 22, 2023, and the incident happened in a village near Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe, Malawi.

According to the Malawi Freedom Network, the Civil Aviation Department was investigating the cause of the plane crash which involved a light aircraft from EastRise Academy. 

Further, Malawi 24, an online news source, stated, “The people on the plane were an Instructor and a Student pilot.”

Screenshot from the Malawi24 news site. 

The incident was also reported here and here. 

Conclusion:

211 Check finds the claim that an aircraft crashed in Munuki Miya Saba, a local neighbourhood in Juba, South Sudan, to be false. Our investigation shows that the plane crashed in a village in Lilongwe, Malawi.

This fact check was published by 211 Check with support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck and the African Fact-Checking Alliance.

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

Fighting misinformation and disinformation in the media is crucial to avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter.

Fact-check: This picture of two police officers kissing wasn’t taken in Juba

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No, the image was taken in Tanzania and has been used by various media houses since October 2014.

Writer: Jibi Moses 

A picture shared on Facebook of two police officers, a male and a female, kissing while donning uniforms is not from Juba, South Sudan.  

The photo claimed to have been taken in Juba, was shared by Juba Eye on August 22, 2023, and was captioned, “I love Juba traffic police; they too love themselves. Do you love your traffic police officers on Juba Streets?”

Screenshot of the picture used by Juba Eye

It had garnered 199 reactions, 43 comments, and two shares at publication. However, the comments had mixed reactions, which prompted an investigation. Some comments rained insults on the traffic police, undermining their integrity. 

The screenshot of the post by Juba Eye shows some of the comments.

Investigation:

A Reverse Image Search shows that the picture was taken in Tanzania and has been online since 2014.

On October 14, 2014, the Independent newspaper published a story featuring the image with the headline ‘Kissing Tanzanian police officers fired after photograph goes viral’. The article explains who the dismissed officers were. It goes on to name them Asumba Mwasumbi, Veronic Mdeme, and Fadhiri Linga, who took the picture, and says that they were dismissed for breaking the code of conduct of the police. 

Screenshot of the image used by the independent Newspaper

Bella Naija, a Nigerian site, also featured the same picture in a story with a similar headline on October 14, 2014. 

Further, the internet is filled with a lot of reports that clearly explain the origin of the picture, as seen from searches on Yandex and Google Lens, and some of the sources include The France 24 Observers and 9news.com

Conclusion:

211 Check found that the picture shared on Facebook of two police officers kissing while donning uniforms is not from Juba, South Sudan. The image was taken in Tanzania and has been used by various media houses since October 2014. Spreading misinformation like this is not okay; it can spoil the reputation and image of the forces and lead to mistrust from the population.

This fact check was published by 211 Check with support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck and the African Fact-Checking Alliance.

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

It’s vital to fight misinformation and disinformation in the media by avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter

Fact-check: Is this a video of a Nigerien soldier preparing for the ECOWAS joint forces?

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No, the video is of a South Sudanese soldier, Col. Angui Karbino Kuanyin, and has been on the internet since 2019.

Writer: Jibi Moses

A video going viral on X (formerly Twitter) supposedly showing a Nigerien soldier shooting bullets into his mouth and spitting them out is misleading. 

In the video, a soldier has two guns, shoots bullets into his mouth and spits them on the ground.

The post accompanying the video is about the ECOWAS intervention in Niger. It reads: “Here’s a Niger soldier displaying his military prowess using black magic as Ecowas prepares to invade the sovereign nation. We’re sitting on a time bomb in West Africa; no one is safe.”

It was shared on August 19, 2023, and attracted 486 Reposts, 71 quotes, 713 likes, 109 bookmarks, and 113.9K views. The video also attracted a lot of comments, with some claiming it was from Uganda. 

The video was also shared on X by another user on the same day with the same claim.

Screenshot of the tweet as shared on X

Investigation:

From a keyword search using the words:  ‘A man shoots himself and spits out the bullets,’  211 Check found that the video has been on the internet for a long time, seemingly first appearing on July 24, 2019. Reports about the incident appeared on different news outlets in different countries. 

France24’s Observers published the story on July 26, 2019 with the headline “South Sudan colonel shoots himself on video: how he faked it.”

The article identifies the man in the video as Col. Angui Karbino Kuanyin. 

“The colonel in the video is Angui Karbino Kuanyin. Kuanyin comes from a well-known military family; he is the son of General Kerubino Kuanyin Bol, one of the leaders of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, who died back in 1999,” reads parts of the report. 

Screenshot of the article by Observers France24

Likewise, on July 24, 2019, Special Broadcasting Service also published an article with an audio interview in Dinka in which Kuanyin explained how and why he shot himself.

Kuanyin explained the idea behind the video in an interview with Australian media outlet SBS:

“Many people around me didn’t believe I could do that. So I told them to come, and they filmed me doing it. I didn’t want the video to end up online, but other people posted it.

Why did I do it? Every day, people threaten President Kiir. I wanted to show people we can protect the president whenever and wherever. I don’t think it is a crime, but I will go before a court if the president thinks it is.

Lots of people criticised me and said that I was using fake bullets. But they are real bullets! I’m extending the invitation to anyone who wants to come with his or her own weapon and try to prove that I am lying. I have lots of similar videos that I can show you.”

Additionally, on April 2, 2021, Tori Ng News published the story with the headline ‘Meet the African Soldier Who Stops Bullet With His Mouth (Video).

Other sources also clarified the soldier’s origin as being from South Sudan, as seen here, here, here, and here.

Conclusion:

211 Check finds that the video circulating on social media claiming to be of a Nigerien soldier is false. The video is of a South Sudanese soldier, Col. Angui Karbino Kuanyin, and has been on the internet since 2019.

This fact check was published by 211 Check with support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck and the African Fact-Checking Alliance.

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

Fighting misinformation and disinformation in the media is crucial to avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter

Fact-check: Is Radisson Blu Hotel Juba conducting massive recruitment?

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 No, it is a scam. Radisson Blu Hotel in Juba is not conducting mass recruitment, as claimed by an impostor Facebook page. 

Writer: Ochaya Jackson

A Facebook page job advertisement that claimed to be from Radisson Blu Hotel, Juba, is a hoax by fraudsters.

The job advertisement, posted on the 28th of August 2023, claimed to offer more than ten different positions using a designed Google application form.

“We are presently seeking committed and industrious individuals to occupy open job positions within our hotel established. Interested individuals should learn more and apply,” reads part of the statement posted alongside the link to the Google application form.

Screenshot of the recruitment scam as posted on Facebook

Suspicious activity:

The fraudulent Facebook page was created on the 27th of August, 2023, and on the 28th, posted about the availability of job vacancies at the hotel according to the page’s profile transparency. The page has no official contacts for email and phone numbers, including the website address, which is unusual for a business entity like the continental hotel.

The Google-designed form link, when clicked, unveils 14 available positions, which include stock controller, waiters/waitresses, receptionists, cleaners, drivers, Cooks, cashiers, accounts clerks, restaurant managers, pastry Chef, gardeners, masseuses, and laundry attendants.

The application form can be filled out using an applicant’s full name, ID number, phone number, email address, gender category, level of education, position, current employment status, work experience, and references before submitting.

Verification:

211 Check reached out to the management of Radisson Blu Hotel Juba via email for inquiry and verification to ascertain the authenticity of the Facebook page job advertisement. However, it turned out that the job advertisement was a scam and fraudulent.

“We are seriously following up on this matter. We have also made [an] announcement to create awareness to the public at large on the ongoing recruitment scam and fraudulent activity,” reads an email correspondent from the management of Radisson Blu Hotel Juba to 211 Check.

“It has come to our attention that there is an ongoing recruitment scam…claiming to represent Radisson Blu Juba, promising job opportunities at our hotel. The safety and security of our community are of utmost importance to us. We want to assure all our valued followers that this is fraudulent activity, and we are taking immediate action to address the situation,” said Radisson Blu Hotel Juba in a statement it made to the public and was also shared with 211 Check.

The Radisson Blu Juba statement was made public to denounce the fake job advert

Findings:

There is no such advert on the website of the Radisson Blu Hotel Juba, and the social media platforms of the hotel have no advertisement of different positions as the Fake Facebook page claimed.

Conclusion:

211 Check finds that the Facebook page job advert claiming to represent Radisson Blu Hotel Juba is a scam designed by fraudsters to collect their personal information. 

Radisson Blu Hotel Juba management confirmed to 211 Check in an email that the Facebook job advert was not from their institution but a “recruitment scam and fraudulent activity.”

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

It’s vital to fight misinformation and disinformation in the media by avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter.

Fact check: Impostor USAID South Sudan Facebook page scamming individuals

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A Facebook page impersonating USAID South Sudan falsely claims to partner with the South Sudan government for economic support, but the page is a recent creation and a hoax aimed at soliciting applications from unsuspecting users.

Writer: Nancy Ceasar

A Facebook page impersonating USAID South Sudan claims it has partnered with the South Sudan government to support deserving businesses and individuals, but this is a hoax.

The page, which had 18 likes and 104 followers when writing this publication, was created on August 21, 2023, and uses the same cover photo of a lady in a vegetable garden as the original USAID South Sudan Facebook page. 

The imposter page has been running this advertisement claiming to offer opportunities to South Sudanese organisations and showing previous opportunities and beneficiaries of the activities they claim to have done.

“We have partnered with the Government in a plan to spend $ 219.5 Million on a special economic stimulus program to support all deserving businesses, miners, farmers and entrepreneurs that the current global economic crisis has hit,” the post reads in part.

This Google Form Application is then attached to the post.

A screenshot of the sponsored Facebook post

A screenshot of the impostor’s page cover

A screenshot of the page transparency section shows when it was created.

Investigation:

On making comparisons, 211 Check realised significant differences between the two pages. USAID South Sudan, the original page was created on July 8, 2011, and is verified with a blue tick. Contrary to the fake page, the page also describes itself as a government organisation with 31,000 followers.

We discovered that the USAID South Sudan Facebook page is verified with a blue tick. it was created on July 8, 2011, and the page has 31k followers and 54 followers.

Screenshot of the legitimate USAID South Sudan Facebook page

USAID South Sudan shares legitimate opportunities on its social media accounts and website.

Conclusion:

211 Check, after a thorough look, concludes that the claim on an impostor Facebook page of USAID South Sudan that it is offering support to businesses and individuals is a hoax. The page running a sponsored post was recently created to solicit applications from unsuspecting Facebook users.

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.


It’s vital to fight misinformation and disinformation in the media by avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter.

Fact-check: Did Russian President Putin arrive in South Africa for the 2023 BRICS Summit, as video footage shows?

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No, the footage shows Putin arriving for the 2018 BRICS summit in South Africa and was aired by SABC News.

Writer: Ochaya Jackson

A viral Facebook post with a video showing Russian President Vladimir Putin supposedly arriving for the 2023 BRICS summit in South Africa is false. 

The post, shared on 19 August 2023, reads: “President Putting has landed….. (sic).” The video shows Putin being received at the airport. 

The claim, widely shared on Facebook and TikTok, appears to be footage aired by South Africa Broadcasting Corporation(SABC) News. 

A keyword Search using the words “Putin arrives in South Africa for BRICS Summit” shows that the claim was shared widely. 

In one instance, a TikTok user shared the video footage, claiming that the Russian President’s arrival for the BRICS summit in South Africa was a slap to the United States and the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“It’s a slap to the USA and ICC as Vladimir Putin arrives in South Africa for [the] BRICS Summit,” reads the claim text. 

The screenshot of the TikTok claim

The Google Search result also returned a fact-check by RTL Today, debunking the same false claim.

Context:

The BRICS Summit is an international relations conference that brings together heads of state from the BRICS countries namely Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa as a group of emerging economies. It was also attended by various heads of state or government officials from other countries around the world.

The claim regarding Putin’s arrival in South Africa surfaced ahead of the three-day 15th BRICS summit held from 22 August 2023 in South Africa.

Putin was supposed to attend the summit as a member of the BRICS. Still, the South African government announced on July 19, 2023, in a statement that the Russian president would not attend the summit, citing it as a mutual agreement.

Notably, the International Criminal Court, which South Africa is a member of, issued an arrest warrant against Putin in March 2023. The warrant subjects him to arrest in any member country of the Hague-based court. 

A keyword search on “Putin arrives in South Africa” on YouTube returns the footage captured by SABC News. It was taken when the Russian President arrived for the 2018 BRICS summit in South Africa. 

For the 2023 BRICS summit, Putin was represented by the Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov. 

According to a media report, Putin addressed the audience at the summit via a video link but not in person.

Conclusion:

The video supposedly showing Putin arriving for the 2023 BRICS summit in South Africa is false. The video was taken by SABC News in 2018 when Putin attended the 10th BRICS summit hosted by South Africa.

This fact check was published by 211 Check with support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck and the African Fact-Checking Alliance.

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

It’s vital to fight misinformation and disinformation in the media by avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter.

Fact-check: This picture depicts Bauchi State, Nigeria, not Yei County, South Sudan 

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This picture does not show Yei County but Bauchi State in Nigeria.

Writer: Nancy Ceasar

There is an image of a highway, a car, and a mountain view posted on 9th August 2023 on a Facebook personal account created in 2009 with 7.2k followers with the caption, “Which place is this in, Yei?”

It is false. The place in the picture is not Yei.

This post attracted some comments and likes, and the commenters were guessing because they couldn’t tell which place it was, making it a reason to fact-check whether it was Yei River County.

This is a screenshot of the post.

This post attracted comments, and some commenters gave suggestions because they did not know whether it was Yei.

Investigation:

Visual Clues: Yei, a Central Equatoria State town, has no tarmac road. The roads and streets are also not as wide as those in the picture.

211 Check performed a reverse image search on the picture using Google Lens Search. The results show that Bauchi friends posted the image on Instagram on June 10th, 2021, with the caption, “This is a paradise for mountaineers and hikers. Which of the frames is your favourite?” “Mbula Hills, Dass LDA of Bauchi State, Nigeria, NG”

A screenshot of the picture that Bauchi’s friends posted

And the same picture was posted by Top Travel and Tour on Instagram with the caption “Top Places of Interest in Bauchi.” “Mbula Hill is one of the many hills in Bauchi state, located in the Dass local government area of Bauchi State.”

Mbula Hill, which is about 4100 feet high, is one of the major tourist destinations in Dass. Mbula Hill is an ideal destination for mountain climbers and hikers. When you plan on exploring Bauchi, remember to put Dass on your list”. This was shared on 5 January 2020.

The People, Relief, and Landforms of Dass Emirate posted the same picture with the caption, “As part of an effort by the present administration government and Governor Muhamad Abdullahi Abubakar of Bauchi State to explore tourism potentials in the state, Atewa Daily Blog deems it paramount to compile brief facts from Dass Emirate.” 

This picture was posted on 13 July 2017

Conclusion:

211 Check finds the picture claimed to be a part of Yei false. The photo shows Bauchi State, Nigeria.

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

Fighting misinformation and disinformation in the media is crucial to avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter.

Fact-check: Picture misidentified as Juba, South Sudan

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This picture shows Johannesburg, South Africa

Writer: Nancy Ceasar

A Facebook page New Sudan posted an image with the caption, “Juba, South Sudan ♥ ️” is false.

This post, published on 16 July 2023, attracted 1.7K likes, 258 comments, and 57 shares. The page posted this picture.

Does this picture show Juba, South Sudan?

Investigation:

211 Check carried out a Google Reverse Image Search on the picture,  and the results showed that the picture had been used by different people referring the picture to Johannesburg, South Africa.

The Most beautiful place in the World posted this picture on August 25, 2020, with a caption.

Screenshot of the picture as shown by Most Beautiful Places in the World

In addition, Angelillo posted the same on Pinterest with the caption “Jacaranda Avenue, Johannesburg, South Africa”. 

Additionally, Agajahub Publisher posted the picture with other pictures, captioning them “List of 30 beautiful cities in Africa and their pictures”.

The most beautiful natural places in the World posted the same picture on 29 August 2020.

I Love South Africa posted the image with the caption, “Jacaranda trees are here to stay,” says the city of Tshwane, which was posted on 28 October 2022.

Architecture and design  – Johannesburg’s Jacaranda on 12 February 2019.

A screenshot of the post

Conclusion:

211 Check has found out that the image making rounds claiming to be Juba, South Sudan, is false. The picture shows Johannesburg, South Africa.

Juba is the capital of South Sudan, the largest city of South Sudan, and the capital of the central Equatoria state. It’s the world’s newest capital city, while Johannesburg, South Africa, is the biggest city and capital of Gauteng province. It began as a 19th-century gold-mining settlement.

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

Fighting misinformation and disinformation in the media is crucial to avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter.

Fact-check: Did thunder strike these people in Uganda because of mobile phones?

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No, the incident happened in India and was unrelated to mobile phone use. 

Writer: Ochaya Jackson

A message circulating on WhatsApp claiming that some people in Uganda were struck by thunder while taking shelter under a tree because their phones were on is false. 

The message, accompanied by a 13-second video, alleges that the supposed casualties were struck dead because their phones were not switched off and warned people to put phones off when it is raining.

“Hi brethren. This is a horrific scene. Thunder struck people dead in Uganda because their phones where not off when they were taking shelter under a tree. Caution, let’s always put our phones off when it is raining (sic),” reads the text. 

In the video, four people are seen falling to the ground after a lightning flash while sheltering under a tree as it rains.

The screenshot of the WhatsApp message

Investigation:

A Google reverse image search returned that the video has been shared on various online platforms. 

According to ‘WildFilmsIndia’, the video shows four men being struck by lightning while taking shelter during rain under a tree in Gurgaon Park, India. It was uploaded in March 2021.

The video was also shared here in December 2021, and the text accompanying it translates to a warning that people should avoid wired phones except in emergencies.

The same video was shared in January 2022 by here, accompanied by text that warned people not to take shelter under the tree and that they should turn off their phones or put them on flight mode. 

This site also posted a video with an Arabic text that warned people to stay away from trees and tall metal objects during thunderstorms. 

Findings

A keyword search on ‘thunder strike people in Uganda’ on Google returned several media reports regarding lightning strikes that killed people in Uganda but not because their phones were on when raining.

According to a BBC report in August 2020, 10 children were killed by a lightning strike in the Arua district of Uganda while sheltering in a grass-thatch hut.

In 2011, The Christian Science Monitor reported that lightning struck a primary school and killed 20 pupils, and about 100 were injured. No reference was made to mobile phones being the reason for the lightning strike.

It is also important to note that thunder is a sound wave caused by a flash of lightning and it is created when the lightning’s energy passes through the air. Lightning heats the air rapidly with a temperature of about 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit (27,760 degrees Celsius) and the rapid expansion and contraction creates the sound wave known as thunder, according to the National Weather Service.

Does a cell phone attract lightning? No

According to AccuWeather, cell phones do not attract lightning. However, using a landline phone during a thunderstorm is dangerous because of its connection to the outside wire as lightning follows the wire to the handset.

Source: Channel Future 2018, credit: Shutterstock

Scientific literature published by the National Centre for Biotechnology Information in 2006, which cited the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) report, indicated that mobile phones are not a lightning strike risk. 

Conclusion

Media reports about lightning strikes that killed people in Uganda did not cite mobile phones as the reason for attracting lightning when raining. 

Additionally, there are no recent reports of such an incident in Uganda, and according to Ugandan Police Force Spokesperson Commissioner Fred Enanga, “We have never registered such an incident of lightning here. Most incidents are football-related, schools, gardening, and the chairs in the video are not common here (sic).”

On the other hand, reports from Indian media, as seen here and here, show that the incident took place in India. It was also said that the men only suffered burn injuries, and there is no mention of mobile phones as the cause. 

No publicly available proof exists that lightning strikes people when it rains because of switching mobile phones on or using them. However, using landline phones when raining poses a risk. 

This fact check was published by 211 Check with support from Code for Africa’s PesaCheck and the African Fact-Checking Alliance.

To ensure accuracy and transparency, we at 211 Check welcome corrections from our readers. If you spot an error in this article, please request a correction using this form. Our team will review your request and make the necessary corrections immediately, if any.

Fighting misinformation and disinformation in the media is crucial to avoiding fake news. Don’t share content you’re uncertain about. False information can harm and mislead people, risking their lives—Fact-check before sharing. For more details, visit https://211check.org/ or message us on WhatsApp at +211 917 298 255. #FactsMatter.