Oyam tragedy: Boy Perishes in Fire as Mother drowns in a dam

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OYAM – Tragedy struck Wanyo Awanya Tek Village in Iceme sub-county, Oyam District, on Saturday, 8 June, when a house fire claimed a four-year-old boy, and his mother drowned hours later in a nearby dam.

The deceased have been identified as Dorcas Akoko, aged 47, a peasant farmer and mother to Pius Ocen, aged 4.

According to Patrick Jimmy Okema, the North Kyoga Regional Police Spokesperson, the incident occurred at around 3:00 am.

Akoko had reportedly left home to catch white ants, a local delicacy, leaving her two children, Juliet Ageno and Pius Ocen, asleep in their grass-thatched house.

Initial reports indicate that she left a candle burning inside the house, sparking a fire that quickly engulfed the hut. Ocen was burned to death. Nine-year-old Juliet Ageno managed to escape the blaze.

On getting the news about the inferno, Akoko reportedly ran off and ended up in a nearby dam, where she drowned. Her body was later retrieved by Police, whose detectives have since launched investigations.

Alex Awal, the LC1 Chairperson of the village, reported the incident to Police. Detectives and Scene of Crime Officers from Iceme Police Station visited and documented the scene. Post-mortems were conducted at the site, and the bodies were handed over to relatives for burial.

“This is a heartbreaking event that could have been prevented. The community must be more vigilant to support distressed individuals and avoid such senseless loss of life,” said Iceme Sub-County Speaker Tom Odwar.