An explosion has killed two pupils and injured two others critically in Omel sub-county, Gulu district in northern Uganda.
Bosco Abonga, the deputy speaker of Omel Sub County identified the deceased as Ronald Rubangakene aged 12 and Morris Opiyo aged 13 while the injured are Derrick Okello, 13, and Brian Rubangakene, 12 – all pupils of Bul Kur primary school in Bul Kur ‘’B’’ village.
The injured are currently receiving treatment in the intensive care unit of Gulu regional referral hospital. Abonga said that the incident occurred around mid-day on Wednesday along Ogwari road as the pupils were on their way home.
He explains that the minors branched into a bush along the road to harvest brooms where they discovered the unexploded ordnance and picked it.
He says that the pupils started playing with the explosive by severally hitting it on a tree log prompting it to explode killing the two instantly. Abonga says that the other two victims sustained deep cuts on the stomach and arms.
Walter Tootika, the Omel sub county LC III chairperson described the incident as saddening noting that everyone should report such strange items to responsible authorities. He also asked the government to intensify the search for explosives in war-ravaged areas in order to avoid such occurrences.
Earlier this year, residents discovered unexploded ordnance and immediately notified security. The area is one that was severely affected by the over 20-year-long insurgency in Northern Uganda perpetrated by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels.
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