Local farmers in Odek Sub County in Gulu district have discovered at least ten pieces of Unexploded Ordnances (UXOs), according to the army.
Six of the ten UXOs were recovered from Layoko, and the other four were found in Lakin, Aceng and Dino villages. One was found in Acet trading center.
Lt. Ahmad Hassan Kato, the 4th Division Army Public Relations Officer (PRO) confirmed to Acholi Times on Friday that they had received reports about the unexploded ordinances and were in the process of destroying them.
Lt. Kato urged families to stay away from where the bombs have been found, warning that they still pose an extreme danger.
The latest discoveries brings to 29 the total number of bombs discovered in the same area in less than one year by farmers.
Since September last year, the army has recovered more than fifteen 88MM bombs in villages across Acholi sub region; the epicenter of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) led insurgency.
For the last one week alone, the army bomb squad has recovered and detonated unspecified number of bombs in Nwoya district, according to the army’s Lt Kato.
Bomb experts under the Tactical Field Engineering Unit from the 4th Division Infantry headquarters based in Gulu are currently combing villages in Nwoya for more Unexploded Ordnances (UXOs), the army has said.
Following the return of peace in northern Uganda dozens of UXOs which are believed to have been abandoned by the members of Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels during the peak of the insurgency have either been safely denoted or have claimed lives.
In the last five years, the UPDF heavy weapons engineers attached to the Combat Engineering Department have destroyed dozens of 20mm recoilless bombs, Rapid Propeller Grenades and 84MM bombs, anti-tank landmines among others.
Districts most affected are from Acholi and Lango sub regions.
Capt Santos Okot Lapolo, the Gulu Resident District Commissioner said his office receives regular reports from the local population about unexploded ordnances they come across in their villages.
