Concerns over unexploded ordnance grow after woman’s death in Lamwo

16 March 2025, 5:40 PM

By Freeman Canogura

The recent death of a woman in Lamwo district due to an unexploded ordnance (UXO) has renewed concerns over the presence of war remnants in Acholi sub region.

The region, which endured multiple conflicts, including the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency, remains at risk from hidden explosives left behind from past wars.

On Saturday, March 15, 2025, a civilian, 47 year old Ayao Esther, lost her life when she was killed by an unexploded ordnance in Nimu village, Pawo west parish, Lukung subcounty.

Ayao was tending to her garden when the ordnance, believed to have been left behind during the LRA insurgency, detonated, resulting in her death. Her body has since been taken to Lamwo Health Centre for a postmortem examination.

This incident has sparked concerns across the Acholi subregion, with residents from Pader and Agago districts sharing their fears about the lingering threat of unexploded ordnance in their communities.

In Pader district, farmers have reported finding strange metallic objects in their fields, raising concerns that some may still contain live explosives. Many remember past incidents where people, including children, were injured or killed while unknowingly handling war remnants. Some families have even abandoned farmland due to safety fears.

Agago district residents, especially in Patongo town council, say the trauma of past conflicts continues to affect them, and the presence of UXOs adds to their anxiety. Many believe some areas remain uncleared of explosives, making daily activities like farming, grazing, and construction dangerous.

Following the incident, the Commander of the 5th Division Infantry Brigade of the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF), Maj. General Keith Katungi, extended his condolences to the bereaved family and called for greater vigilance.

He urged residents to report any suspicious objects to security forces and avoid tampering with unknown metallic items.

Captain Edrin Mawanda, the Public Information Officer for the 5th Division Infantry, stressed the ongoing efforts of the UPDF to clear ordnance from former war zones. While the process continues, he assured the public that measures are being taken to minimize the risks associated with unexploded ordnance.