GULU: An explosion has killed two pupils and injured two others critically in Omel Sub County, Gulu district. Morris Opiyo, 13, and Ronald Rubangakene, 12.
The injured are Derrick Okello, 13 and Brian Rubangakene, 12. They are all pupils of Bul Kur Primary School in Bul Kur “B” Village. In the Intensive Care Unit of the Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, the injured are getting help.
Abonga told URN that the incident occurred around mid-day on Wednesday along Ogwari Road as the pupils were on their way home. He explains that the minor branched into a bush along the road to harvest brooms, where they discovered the unexploded ordnance and picked it up.
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 their stomachs and arms.
Walter Tootika, the Omel Sub County LC III Chairperson, said that the incident was saddening and that everyone should report strange things to the right people.
He also asked the government to step up the search for explosives in war-torn areas in order to avoid this.
A team of security detectives had cordoned off the scene by the time of publishing this story. Early this year, residents discovered unexploded ordnance and immediately notified security. Over the past 20 years, the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) rebels have waged a long-running insurgency in Northern Uganda. This area has been particularly hard hit.