Twelve Warriors Killed In Car Crash

By Nathan Etengu in Mbale TWELVE Karimojong warriors died and 32 were injured when their lorry overturned on the Abim-Kotido road.The accident occurred recently in Koputh valley, 35km from Kotido town when one of the wheels flew off. The vehicle belonged to a Police officer, Mary Akot, of Kotido Police Station. The vehicle, driven by Haruna Ali, was reportedly from Lira and had picked the warriors from Orwamuge, Abim and Alerek on the way.Reliable sources said Akot was in hiding for fear of a revenge attack by relatives of the dead. A source at the Karamoja regional Police headquarters, Moroto, said it was common for the Karimojong to demand for compensation from the owners of accident vehicles in which their kinsmen are killed. “When it comes to restitution and compensation for the dead, the Karimojong do not follow the established laws,” said the Police source in Moroto.Moroto deputy Resident District Commissioner Andrew Keem, quoting sources from Kotido, said five warriors died on the spot while others died on the way to Kotido Hospital. The warriors were reportedly returning from grazing areas in Labwor where most of the herds are.Ends