Mourners perish in Pader accident

It was a play of fate as people who were coming from burial on Friday will themselves be buried on Sunday. This was after they died in an accident on their return journey.

A lorry that was transporting relatives from a burial ceremony in Pader overturned killing two brothers on the spot and injured 10 others.

The mourners, all residents of Obim parish in Alebtong district, had attended the burial ceremony of their in-law in Lapono sub-county, Pader district and were returning when the vehicle overturned at Rackoko trading centre, about 55kmn before Lira town.

John Okello, a survivor, identified the dead as William Okello in his 60s and his younger brother Joel Abura in his 50s.

Okello says the front tyre of the vehicle bust and the driver lost control and the lorry overturned. He says he helped pull out people from the wreckage.

Okello said the injured were taken to Pajule Health Centre and Puranga before they were transferred to Lira Regional Referral Hospital.

The bodies were also brought to Lira Regional Referral Hospital mortuary on Saturday morning.

The Aswa Regional Police Spokesperson, Jimmy Patrick Okema, said the accident was a result of overloading. Okema said there have been several accidents during this period. He said one person was also killed in an accident on Gulu Kampala Highway.

Those who are injured and admitted at Lira Regional Referral Hospital include Patrick Ayena, 42, Isaac Anyo, Julius Peter Okello, Walter Ogwand and Winy Lalam, a female juvenile said to be in serious condition.

Others are Isaac Tabu Ojok, Tracey Acen, Harriet Atim, one Ogweng, Bicantina Okello, the widow of the deceased William Okello and Florence Ogwang.