Landmine kills two pupils in Masaka
Sep 23, 2009
TWO pupils of Kasijagirwa Army Primary School were blown up on Tuesday when a landmine exploded at the UPDF armoured brigade barracks in Katwe-Butego Division in Masaka.
Dismus Buregyeya
TWO pupils of Kasijagirwa Army Primary School were blown up on Tuesday when a landmine exploded at the UPDF armoured brigade barracks in Katwe-Butego Division in Masaka.
The deceased were identified as Maron Banyane, 16, a son of army officer Godfrey Wamala, who hails from Masindi and Birimuye Mugisha, 13, a son of Florence Namusoke of Kasijagirwa village.
The brigade spokesman, Lt. Geoffrey Burashana, said the boys stepped on the landmine as they used a short-cut through the barracks.
“This is the first such incident. The UPDF initially engaged in a detonation exercise to clear the barracks of the land mines, which were planted by armies in the 1979 liberation war. We are surprised that one of the landmines remained unnoticed.â€
He explained that they would embark on a fresh landmine detonation exercise to guard against such accidents.
Burashana said the army would meet the costs of the burials in Masindi and Kasijagirwa.
He also cautioned the public against trespassing through the barracks. “The teachers and pupils who use the army school must follow the routes clearly spelt out by the armoured brigade. Those who use short cuts are risking their lives,†he advised.
TWO pupils of Kasijagirwa Army Primary School were blown up on Tuesday when a landmine exploded at the UPDF armoured brigade barracks in Katwe-Butego Division in Masaka.
The deceased were identified as Maron Banyane, 16, a son of army officer Godfrey Wamala, who hails from Masindi and Birimuye Mugisha, 13, a son of Florence Namusoke of Kasijagirwa village.
The brigade spokesman, Lt. Geoffrey Burashana, said the boys stepped on the landmine as they used a short-cut through the barracks.
“This is the first such incident. The UPDF initially engaged in a detonation exercise to clear the barracks of the land mines, which were planted by armies in the 1979 liberation war. We are surprised that one of the landmines remained unnoticed.â€
He explained that they would embark on a fresh landmine detonation exercise to guard against such accidents.
Burashana said the army would meet the costs of the burials in Masindi and Kasijagirwa.
He also cautioned the public against trespassing through the barracks. “The teachers and pupils who use the army school must follow the routes clearly spelt out by the armoured brigade. Those who use short cuts are risking their lives,†he advised.