Two children critically injured in ordnance explosion

Kasese, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Two children in Kasese municipality are nursing serious injuries they sustained in a blast. The incident happened at around 8:00pm on Tuesday in Kogere cell, Nyamwamba division when the minors were playing with an explosive device.

The administration of Kilembe hospital has identified the minors as Gilbert Mumbere, aged 11 years, and Festo Mbale, 13 years-old who remains in comma. Jovia Musoki, 30, another victim was shocked by the blast and by the time our reporter visited the hospital, she was due for discharge.

Peter Masereka, a resident of Kogere told URN on Wednesday that the minors picked an unexploded ordnance from the nearby UPDF training ground in the area and wanted to sell it to scrap dealers. He adds that the children usually search around the UPDF rage grounds with hope of picking some metals to sell.

Herbert Bwambale, the area councillor wants UPDF to shift the training ground from the community to an isolated place for safety purposes.

Esther Masika, a maternal aunt of Mbale wants the government to compensate the families and the victims in what she describes as negligence of UPDF personal.

She argues that UPDF has often been reluctant to collect all materials they use after their training and sometimes hire young children to clean the ground.

Kibaya B. Onesmus, the administrator of Kilembe Mines hospital says two of the victims have improved and soon will be discharged while Mbale remains in a critical condition.

He says the later sustained serious injuries on both legs and the chest.

ASP Tumwine Marutsya, the acting Rwenzori East Police spokesperson told URN on Wednesday that a team of experts will visit the place to carry out further investigations to establish what could have happened. He adds that police have picked exhibits and some of the nearby scrap stores have also been sealed off for investigation purposes.

Murutsya warns the public from picking unknown materials as the country tries to suppress terror incidents.

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URN