Gulu – Two police constables have been confirmed dead and eleven others critically injured in an accident along the Gulu-Kitgum Highway.
The accident which occured on Monday at around 8 pm involved a police patrol pick-up registration number UP 5568.
Police have identified the deceased as Police Constable Pius Epodoi and Marvin Odong.
Their bodies are lying at Gulu Hospital mortuary while the injured are receiving treatment at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital in Gulu City.
The injured are Corporal Jacob Odong and Police constables Junior Peter Opio, Kenneth Omara, Daniel Okello, James Candia, Simon Ochora, Vincent Ejoku, Vincent Awuzu, John Okwera, Abraham Okure, and Calvin Toorach, who was driving. The police officers were aboard a police patrol pick-up registration number UP 5568, which hit a hump and turned several times.
Leonard Ojok, the Agago District LC V Chairperson who was part of the rescue team says the accident occurred towards Aswa River Bridge about one kilometer after Cwero Trading Centre in Paicho Sub County, Gulu district.
According to Ojok, the constables were on a special assignment in Agago district following an upsurge in armed criminal activities. At least three businessmen have been killed in the past few months.
Ojok also disclosed that the police are hunting for a pistol, which went missing following the accident.
On Tuesday, URN visited some of the survivors at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital. James Candia, one of the victims, said that he is battling severe body pains specifically in the chest and head. He says that doctors have recommended a body scan to ascertain the magnitude of the problem.
Another officer who did not disclose his name blamed the accident on speeding.
Damalie Nachuha, the Aswa River Regional Police Commander, who also rushed to Gulu Regional Referral Hospital regretted the incident, saying that the injured constables were carefully selected for the operation in Agago district.
Andrew Opiyo, the Aswa River Regional Police Community Liaison Officer said the constables were from Gulu City heading to Agago district for special duty under the command of Joseph Okalebu, the Aswa zonal police commander
Source:URN
