A family in Lamwo district has lost 3.5 million shillings in bride price money in a house fire.
Christine Adong, 56, a resident of Abera Village, Palabek Abera Sub County said the fire started at around 12: 30 am on Thursday when they were already asleep.
According to Adong, the fire first engulfed bundles of dry grass that were stacked around a mango tree, and after two hours, a big hut again caught fire, destroying sacks of sorghum, pigeon peas, and an ATM card among other valuable documents.
Adong revealed that the 3.5 million shillings was money paid as dowry following her daughter’s traditional marriage on 27th January this year.
Charles Picha, the victim’s brother, said the fire was not an accident.
Picha suspects that the fire was started by a woman who eloped with his brother recently but attempted suicide and they reported her to Palabek Gem Police Post.
Patrick Ongom, the OC of Palabek Gem Police Post confirmed recording the case on Thursday and corroborated that a lady who was reported for attempting suicide from that family, but since she was not caught in the act, the suspect remains unknown.
The Penal Code defines arson as the criminal act of intentionally setting a building or property on fire.
A person who willfully and unlawfully sets fire to any building or structure whether completed or not commits a felony and can be jailed for life.
According to the 2021 Police Crime Report Lamwo, was third among the top ten districts with the highest number of arson cases in the country, with 46 cases registered.
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