Police of Paidha in Zombo district have arrested a man for abandoning a pit hole latrine that killed two of his neighbor’s children after a heavy down pour.
The man who is facing charges of causing two deaths by a rash and neglect act is identified as Francis Omirambe aged 32 years, an Electrician, resident of Alisithungu cell, Dwonga ward, Paidha Town Council, Zombo District.
Paidha police said they received a distress call on Wednesday from the area local chairman of the Alisithungu cell, who reported that two children aged one and two years had drowned in a pit hole after a heavy rain fall that lasted hours on Wednesday mid morning.
It was discovered that two female juveniles, Ocandi Asinata, a one-year-old daughter of Sarah Nyamutono, and Vion Tamara, a two-year-old daughter of another neighbour named Christine Mandawun, both residents of Alisithungu cell, died in Omirambe’s pit.
“It's alleged that on the fateful day at about 12pm at Alisithungu cell, the two victims who lived within the same compound, after a heavy downpour were found drowned in a pit, and it's their neighbour who alerted the area chairman who in turn reported to police for further management,” said Josephine Angucia, the police spokesperson for West Nile Region.
According to Angucia, a police rescue team was dispatched to the scene and retrieved the bodies which were delivered to Paidha Health Centre III mortuary for postmortem.
“They recorded statements from relevant witnesses. The one who dug the pit and left it open, a one Francis Omirambe, an Electrician, resident of the same village, was arrested to help police with investigations,” she said.
Inquiries indicate that the suspect dug the pit and left it uncovered which was a risk to the public. Hence the heavy rain filled the pit with water, in which the deceased children, who were left unattended to by their parents drowned to death.
As a lesson from this incident, the police spokesperson advised the general public not to leave pits dug around home yards for constructions open especially in this rain season.
“They should cover them properly to prevent children and family members from falling in them and drowning to death,” she said