Two children were last night burnt to death in their home in Kakoge village in Ojwina division in Lira town.
The deceased have been identified as 7-year-old Rachael Konga Loy Akello aged 5 both belonging to Evelyn Akullu and James Okwir.
Their brother 9-year-old Daniel Opok who survived the incident told police the fire was started by a hurricane lamp which their mother had lit and left burning while she joined their father at a nearby trading center where they operate a kiosk.
He said he woke up only to find the fire had engulfed the mattress on which the deceased were sleeping.
Opok said he helplessly watched as his sisters were burnt to death. He said he tried to escape in vain as the door was locked from outside.
He was however rescued by a bodaboda rider who broke the door and pulled him out after seeing the house on fire. The incident took place at around 10:0pm.
Johnson Kilama, the northern regional police spokesman blames the incident on negligence.
The parents of the deceased were this morning arrested and detained at Lira central police station for several hours before they were released after recording their statements.
Kilama says investigation will continue while the deceased charred bodies' have been taken to Amolatar or burial.
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