Police officer''s child dies after dilapidated house collapses on him

By Bonney Odongo

The mood was tense among police officers and their spouses at Lira police barracks as they mourned a child who died after a dilapidated building collapsed on him.

On Sunday a house at Lira police barracks collapsed on a 12-year-old child and he passed on at corner Aboke in Kole district when being rushed to Lacor Hospital in Gulu.

The North Kyoga police spokesperson, Manshur Suwed, said Jacob Adoko, a son of Assistant Inspector of Police (AIP) Moses Odongo was playing on the verandah when the weak wall collapsed on him.

“The wall collapsed on him on Sunday at around 8:00am leaving him with serious injuries on the head and was referred to Lacor Hospital in Gulu by medics at Lira Regional Referral Hospital after realizing his condition was worrying,” Suwed said.

Manshur blamed the death to the ongoing heavy torrential rains that weakened the already dilapidated police houses.

“I am highly disappointed with the death of my son because all my hope was in him,” Odongo, mourned his son.

He said the boy was a bright primary five pupil at Lira Police Primary School.

Last year, a child of another police officer died under similar circumstances at Lira Police barracks.

Out of over 150 police personnel staying at Lira police barracks less than 16, especially high ranking officers, are accommodated in at least moderate houses that were renovated two years ago.
Just like elsewhere in the country, police in Lira live in residences considered unfit for human habitation.

Most if not all the buildings at Lira police barracks were constructed during colonial administration. Most of the buildings still have asbestos roofing, while those in worse state are covered with tarpaulins.