Pregnant mother dies after falling off the tree while trying to pluck mango

A Ugandan pregnant mother reportedly died after falling off a mango tree

She had climbed the tree to pluck mangoes to feed her hungry children

Nearly seven million people in Uganda reportedly face hunger

A 30-year-old Ugandan woman reportedly died on April 14 after falling 20 meters to the ground off a mango tree.

Betty Atyeno, from Tali village in Abako Sub-county, Alebtong District, had climbed the tree to pluck mangoes for her five children, who had reportedly gone a whole day without food.

She lost grip and fell, and although she was rushed to a local health centre, she died a few hours later.


Mr Musa Ecweru, Uganda's State Minister for Disaster Preparedness, said that 7 million Ugandans are facing hunger

A member of the local council, Mr John Odongo, said Atyeno had separated from her husband after a domestic disagreement.

Odongo said: "The current hunger is causing a lot of domestic violence since men are chasing away their wives and children because they are unable to look after them."

Odongo urged the Ugandan government and aid agencies to intervene to avert widespread famine in the region

Uganda's State Minister for Disaster Preparedness, Mr must Ecweru, reportedly said recently that the prolonged drought had increased the number of people facing hunger in Uganda from 1.2 million to seven million.