Hailstorm Fatal to Rainmaker

Villagers in a southwestern Ugandan town killed a rainmaker they blamed for creating a hailstorm that devastated their homes, a newspaper reported Friday.

The rainmaker, identified only as Kazaalwa, had threatened to loose his powers on the village of Rewnyangi unless its people showed more generosity and respect for him, according to Focus, which is published by the Islamic Information Center.

Days later, hailstorms and high winds lashed the town, ripping roofs off houses, shops and three schools. Angered villagers pushed Kazaalwa out into the storm and beat him to death.