A 47-year-old mother of nine was on Saturday killed by an explosion in Yokke Village, Ngomoromo Parish, Lukung Sub-County, Lamwo District.
The deceased, identified as Esther Aya was tending to her garden at around 4 pm, when the ordnance detonated, leading to her death.
The ordnance is suspected to have been left behind by during the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency.
William Komakech, the RDC of Lamwo district, told Uganda Radio Network that the woman had gone to collect and burn the rubbish in her garden, unfortunately, the rubbish heap she set fire to was on a bomb that detonated and killed her instantly.
Komakech revealed that the woman’s body was later discovered by hunters who were returning home.
He appealed to locals to remain alert as they tend to their farms, saying there are still many unexploded ordnances, especially in remote areas.
//Cue in: “So lawo ma…
Cue out: …strange metal mo.”//
He said the body of the deceased was still at the scene awaiting a police vehicle to carry it.
The 5 Division Commander, Major General Keith Katungi, condoled with the family and urged residents to exercise caution and report any suspicious objects resembling ordnance to security forces.
“It is important for the community members to remain vigilant to prevent further tragedies.”
Gen. Katungi said the Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces remains committed to protecting the people of Uganda and their property.
It has been years since the war ended, and the once-chaotic land is slowly healing, but remnants of explosives remain hidden beneath the soil.
In 2022, two pupils of Bul-Kur Primary School in Omel Sub-county, Gulu district were killed and two others were left with injuries, after an unexploded ordnance they found in a bush exploded, as they were playing with it.
