MP’s Daughter Drowns in a Bucket of Water on her Birthday

Tragedy has befallen the family of Ik County MP Hillary Lokwang after his one year old daughter reportedly drowned in a bucket full of water.

Baby Elma Lokwang drowned at the MP’s home in Kaabong on Tuesday evening on her birthday. According to Lokwang, the incident happened as the family was preparing to celebrate the birthday of his daughter who had just made one year.

Apparently, Elma crawled to a bucket full of water which had been left in the compound. At the time of her death, the family member who has been attending to her was in the house mopping.

“I lost my daughter yesterday at 5pm after she drowned in water in a bucket. The family was celebrating her birthday. Somebody left water in a bucket and entered inside the house to mop, so the kid entered the bucket and died,” devastated Lokwang said, adding that her mother had gone to buy the cake. At the time of her death, Lokwang was in Kampala for his parliamentary duties. He is currently on his way to Kaabong for burial. 

According to the MP, burial arrangements will be communicated soon.

In May 2019, a similar incident happened to State minister for Water Ronald Kibuule after his twins aged 2 drowned in their swimming pool at home.

Lokwang is among the few candidates who are unopposed in the 2021 general polls. He is already an MP in the 11th Parliament. He hails from a marginalized community in Kaabong district, Karamoja sub region. UNESCO named the IK tribe as one near extinction.

For the first time since Parliament of Uganda was established IK people got a representative in Parliament in 2016, they live in the mountain ranges around Kidepo Valley national park in Karamoja region. Apparently, Lokwang is the only university graduate among the Ik community.