Explosive kills Nakaseke herdsman on UPDF range land

Fred Musole who was on Thursday hit by a device suspected to be a bomb in Nakaseke District recovering at Bombo Miltary Hospital. PHOTO BY DAN WANDERA

What you need to know:

  • Musole, 22, is currently admitted at Bombo Military Hospital.
  • In March 2015, two people were killed and 8 others injured when a metallic object they recovered in a forest at Kamusene village in Ngoma Sub-county in Nakaseke District exploded as they transported it home to be sold as metal scrap.

NAKASEKE
A herdsman was on Thursday evening killed and another injured when a device suspected to be a bomb exploded at Kimotozi village as they grazed animals on land belonging to the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) in Kinyogoga Sub-county, Nakaseke District.

George Muvinyi, 25, died on spot while Fred Musole survived with serious injuries after the device said to have been abandoned during the 1980s war exploded in their hands.
Musole, 22, is currently admitted at Bombo Military Hospital.
Kinyogoga Sub-county councillor, Mr Fred Rwabirinda on Friday said the two herdsmen reportedly tried to play with the metallic object believed to be a bomb and possibly part of the war material which were abandoned by either the liberation war fighters or the government forces during the five-years liberation struggle which brought the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) government to power in 1986.

“We have had several incidents where people lose lives as a result of such suspicious devices despite warnings and sensitization of the public against playing with such devices recovered from the bush. The UPDF has also cautioned residents against using the army land which is often used as range land in Kinyogoga Sub-county,” Rwabirinda said.
UPDF Spokesperson Lt Col Paddy Ankunda in a telephone interview said he was yet to verify information regarding the incident but added that the UPDF range land should not be used for other purposes by civilians.

“It is unfortunate that life has been lost but we also caution all civilians illegally using the UPDF land to stop the practice. Most of this land is used as range land and should be a no go area for the civilian population,” Ankunda said on Friday.
In March 2015, two people were killed and 8 others injured when a metallic object they recovered in a forest at Kamusene village in Ngoma Sub-county in Nakaseke District exploded as they transported it home to be sold as metal scrap.