TWO pupils of Oketkwer Primary School in Aromo sub-county, Lira district died when a pit-latrine collapsed on them.
The Police identified the dead as Jaspher Felix Okwor and Jimmy Olwata, both Primary Seven candidates.
Lillian Akello, the senior woman teacher, said the disaster struck at around 7:30am, before the beginning of classes.
She attributed the incident to shoddy construction work and heavy rains, which have softened the soil.
The four-stance pit-latrine was constructed by an Italian NGO, COOPI in 2006, when residents were still living in displaced people’s camps.
Parents, the Police and district officials rushed to the scene and pulled out the bodies after a three-hour struggle.
Akello said, Okwor arrived early at the school, swept his classroom and arranged the desks.
“He then went to the latrine to ease himself. Shortly after, we heard the sound of a collapsing wall,” Akello said.
The district inspector of schools, Bosco Bwonyo, together with other officials, temporarily closed the school and sent the 864 pupils home.
