20110225
Xinhua
KAMPALA, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- A grenade explosion accidentally killed four children and injured nine others in the northwestern Ugandan district of Moyo, a senior police officer in the district said on Thursday.

Ahmed Kimera, district police commander, told Xinhua by telephone that the tragedy occurred on Wednesday in Obongi Township Council, killing three children on the spot and the other died in hospital.

"It was 32 millimeter grenade. The children picked it as they were looking for metal scraps. When they tried to open it, the grenade exploded killing three of them on spot. The fourth one died this morning (Thursday) at hospital)," said Kimera.

He said four of the nine children admitted at Moyo Hospital are in critical condition. The police are still investigating the matter.

According to the East African country's Mine Action Program, there are many landmines and unexploded ordinances in northwestern Uganda following decades of conflicts in the region.