Lightning has struck a junior school in Uganda's western Masindi area, killing 18 children, officials say.Police spokeswoman Judith Nabakooba told AFP news agency 15 girls and three boys had died at Runyanya Primary School in Kiryandongo on Tuesday.
Kiryandongo's district commissioner told Uganda's Daily Monitor paper 36 pupils had been admitted to hospital.
Concern about the number of recent deadly lightning strikes has prompted MPs to raise the matter in parliament.
Up to 28 people have been killed by lightning and scores injured in the past week, the private Daily Monitor reports.
According to the AP new agency, meteorologist Ken Kizza Aderi says the lack of lightning conductors on buildings could be partly responsible for the deaths.
Kiryandongo police commander Patrick Byaruhanga told Uganda's state-owned New Vision paper that the lightning struck at about 1630 local time (1330 GMT) as pupils were in their classrooms waiting for a downpour to subside before going home.
Ms Nabakooba said some of the more seriously injured pupils had been taken to Mulago Hospital in the capital, Kampala, more than 200km (125 miles) to the south-east.
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