By Emmanuel Olinga
KATAKWI
On the morning of June 10, 2026, residents of Okeeya village, Okore Parish, Okore Sub County in Katakwi District were shocked after witnessing a grenade explosion attack in which two minors aged five and seven survived death after a suspected bomb exploded in their compound.
The two minors sustained multiple injuries on their bodies with the only baby boy out of a family of nine surviving without harm.
The grenade blasted the duo while they were at their Okore compound, injuring them in the legs, knees, waist, and upper chest. The duo; James Otim, 5 years old, and Adonyi Jane, 7 years old, incurred significant injuries to their bodies.
Prior to the occurrence, the father of the family was apprehended by one Isudan Oedo at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, while returning from the Aarapoo market. It is also alleged that the same guy could be responsible for the Wednesday morning 9:00 a.m attack.
Unnamed UPDF officers who visited casualties at Katakwi General Hospital characterized the weapon as an air-to-surface small munitions, most likely with a rubber grenade that can be employed during an insurgency noting that the UPDF does not use the same weapon in training.
They also emphasized that the bomb is not from their training school as suspected, noting that the point of contact and fragmentation is minor, and that assailants may have thrown the ammo since the father of the two injured children was attacked the day before the incident.
However, James Otim, 45, the father of two, who was also receiving treatment at one of Okore’s clinics after being waylaid by one Oedo Isuda, alleged that the ammunition or bomb had strayed from the Olilim Training Wing because they had no issue with the person who waylaid him the day before.
Ketty Adeke, 45-year-old parish councilor Opianaya and mother of the twins, recalls that the tragedy occurred while she was inside her house, where she only heard the sound of a bomb blast. When she looked up, she discovered her children covered in dust and bleeding.
A family of ten is now living in terror and trapped in search of further care; requesting for assistance from the UPDF and the government in obtaining additional treatment for the minors.
Philip Obwakori, parish councillor for Okore, suggested that the incident could have been caused by recruits in the Olilim Training Wing miscalculating grid references, pointing out that a resident, a one John Eridok was recently hit at the same residence. He urged proper guidance for recruits while using firearms.
The School of Artillery and Air Defense in Olilim reported to the scene of the incident but reported that they did not have a gun firing, which would have caused the explosion.
Lieutenant Lt Nasser Sabilla Siya, an intelligence officer of the Wiski Battalion, indicated that the explosive that struck the children was likely thrown by someone. “The attack looks like it was carried out by some body.” He said.
He stated that he had visited the location with bomb technicians, who believe the bomb was thrown at the children as a form of revenge.
However, he stated that they have begun investigation into the case, and the main suspect is the hunter, who fled.
According to the medical report, small fragments were extracted from the damaged two legs and upper chest of a seven-year-old girl and a five-year-old boy, respectively.
