Kumi, (UG): The Territorial Police in Kumi District is holding two suspects to help with investigations into circumstances under which three siblings died after allegedly being poisoned during Christmas festivities.
The deceased siblings identified as John Okodosi, 9, Ignatius Agodo, 4, and Constant Olupot, 6, all sons of Tom Omudu and residents of Okudumo Village, Okudumo Parish in Mukongoro Sub County in Kumi District were pronounced dead at a nearby clinic in Kanyum town council where they were rushed on Wednesday.
Mr Stephen Odongo, the LC3 chairperson of Mukongoro Sub County said that the incident happened on Wednesday when food meant for the children was allegedly laced with poison. He added that at the time of the alleged poisoning, the parents of the children were not at home.
“It seems the suspects had for long targeted the parents but failed, so the children were now soft targets,” he said.
The lifeless bodies were taken to Mbale City Mortuary where police surgeon Dr Barnabas Rubanza confirmed that the children died of poison.
Kumi RDC, Mr Ahamada Washaki confirmed the report on Thursday and spoke regretfully of the bad-hearted people behind the act which claimed the lives of the innocent siblings.
“It’s unfortunate that we walk up to shock after sad news of murder by poisoning had claimed three juveniles. This is a quite regrettable incident for people with such bad hearts to kill such innocent children,” Mr Washaki said.
Mr Omudu, the father of the deceased trio wondered what could have led to the poisoning of his children who he says had no grudge with anyone. He cried out to police to help him get justice by charging the suspects behind the heinous act.
“These are little children who have no grudge with anyone, it is painful to lose children you have been struggling to raise in such a heinous incident, as a grieving parent may police help me get justice,” Mr Omudu said.
By Thursday evening, relatives of the deceased children had torched the homes of the suspects prompting police to spend most of the night at the scene.
The Kumi District Police Commander (DPC), Mr Twaha Buyinza, said that the matter is being investigated and police are on guard to prevent more loss of lives through revenge attacks.
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