An 8-year-old boy is in nursing serious injuries after suspected bomb exploded and blew off his right leg.
Richard Okema, a pupil of Dure Primary School in Latanya Sub County in Pader district is admitted at Kitgum Hospital.
Jimmy Patrick Okema, the Aswa Region Police Spokesperson said the boys’ limb is suspected to have been blown off by a grenade.
At the peak of the conflict between the Lords Resistance Army ( LRA) and the Ugandan government, Latanya Sub County was frequently attacked by the LRA rebels.
Police say the incident happened on September 23 at around 7am in the morning. The circumstances on how the explosition, happened, Okema said, is still unclear.
Richard Okema becomes the eight child to be wounded by UXO since the beginning of this year. In August, three children were wounded in Lamwo after a similar incident. Similarly, in January six children were seriously injured in Pader district after a suspect unexploded bomb that they were playing with went off.
Bomb experts under the Tactical Field Engineering Unit under the 4th Division Infantry headquarters based in Gulu and Combat Engineering Department have destroyed dozens of 20mm recoilless bombs, Rapid Propeller Grenades and 84MM bombs, anti -tank landmines among others in return villages in northern Uganda.
Districts that were heavily affected by LRA insurgency in Acholi and Lango sub region are Gulu, Pader, Kitgum, Abim, Lamwo, Dokolo, Alebtong, Lira, Kole, Otuke, Oyam, Agago, Amolatar, Apac, and Kaberamaido to rid it of the UXOs.
Both the police and army have warned farming communities that it may take years to clear northern off unexploded ordinances.
