Pader twins buried in pots

Jan 08, 2009

THE twins burnt to death in the wild bush fire in Ojile village, Pader district, were buried in two separate pots in one grave.

By Justin Moro and Chris Ocowun

THE twins burnt to death in the wild bush fire in Ojile village, Pader district, were buried in two separate pots in one grave.

George Opio and Joyce Acen died along with their mother, grandmother and three other siblings in the Tuesday fire as the adults harvested food.

Opio and Acen were buried at their grandmother’s home according to the Acholi tradition. Also buried at the home was their sister, Lillian Apio.

According to some Acholi elders, twins are buried in pots so that their remains can be exhumed for ritual purposes in the future.

After the remains have been exhumed, they are kept in a shrine within the compound where rituals are annually performed in their memory.

Their grandmother, Therezina Akullu and mother, Rose Adong, together with Nancy Ajok were laid to rest at Pajule Catholic cemetery on Wednesday.

The funeral service was led by a Catholic catechist, Marino Dong, of Pajule Catholic Mission. Many district leaders including the chairman, Peter Odok W’Ocheng, attended the burial.

Gladys Acayo, the baby-sitter, was buried at Wang-Duku, east of Pajule trading centre.

The fire was allegedly started by hunters, who often burn the tall grass to have a better chance of capturing small wild animals.

Odok warned people against setting bushes ablaze and encouraged them to instead cut the grass for thatching.

The Woman LC5 councillor for Pajule and Lapul sub-counties, Rose Latoo, said nine people have died in bush fires since mid last year.

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