Abandoned device explodes, killing three refugees in Lamwo

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LAMWO — Three South Sudanese children in Palabek refugee settlement in Lamwo district, earlier today (March 7), died instantly when an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) they were playing with exploded.

The incident happened on Saturday afternoon (2pm) at Pawic Village, Anaka Parish in Palabek Gem sub-county in Lamwo district.

Richard Oloya, the youth chairman of Pawic village, identified the trio as pupils of Unity primary school in the settlement aged between 10-14.

He said the children left the settlement in the morning to visit their mother, who is married to a man identified as Joseph Okeny, in Pawic. The trio, however, reportedly decided to go hunting around Owidi Hill, where they found unexploded ordnance.

Oloya said, according to the report they got, when the children brought the bomb home, their mother saw it and told them to throw it away in the bush.

Upon returning home, the children started playing with the device, hitting it with a stone. Moments later, the object exploded and killed two on the spot.

Oloya said one child who was severely injured was rushed to Paluda Health Centre III in the settlement with an ambulance, but before reaching the health Centre, he died.

Joel Watoker, LC3 Palabek Gem sub-county, said this is the second similar incident in the area. The first incident in 2022 claimed a boy, the son of Teodoro Langoya of Abuka village.

He added that his office continues to sensitise the community, advising them to report to local leaders near them so that UPDF can pick up and detonate any unexploded ordnance.

Watoker said that they suspect that many unexploded ordnances remain in the bushes since the area was infested with the LRA rebellion during the insurgency.