Toddler killed by reckless driver laid to rest

PADER – A three-year-old who was crushed to death by a lorry has been buried at her parents’ home in Orakul village, Pader district.

Rita Apili was reportedly playing a few feet away from her mother who was selling mangoes by the roadside (Rwot Aler road).

Moments later, a truck said to be unroadworthy hit her as the driver tried to reverse. The deadly incident sparked off a riot in Lira town by angry locals who were baying for blood.

An anonymous eye witness told a local radio station that the driver fled after the hitting the child.

Furious residents threatened to burn the vehicle but security forces intervened and dispersed the mob. Some people were arrested and taken to Lira Central Police Station for questioning.

The child's body was transported from Lira hospital mortuary to Pader on a motorcycle

Apili's mother, Susan Alum (middle, seated on motorcyle) accompanied her daughter's body home for burial

The child’s body was collected from Lira hospital mortuary on Friday and transported on motorcycle to Pader for interment.

Apili’s mother, 21-year-old Susan Alum fainted and had to be rushed to Lira Regional Referral Hospital upon learning of her daughter’s death.

She was discharged on Friday and accompanied the body for burial.

The area’s officer in charge of traffic, Mohamed Bigirwa said the vehicle was towed to Lira Central Police Station. The owner has not showed up as the driver remains at large.

Bigirwa said residents pelted him and his team with stones when he went to visit the scene of the accident.