Grenade blast kills one, leaves scores injured in the Ugandan capital

A grenade blast in the Ugandan capital Kampala on Wednesday left one child dead and eight injured, according to local authorities.

Police in a statement said the blast was as a result of children unknowingly tampering with a remnant of an explosive grenade.

The grenade is suspected to have been buried in the ground next to a school in Mengo, a Kampala suburb.

"A team of bomb experts has responded and are assessing the scene for more details. While another team of detectives follow up on the victims," the police statement said.

The state-owned New Vision daily earlier reported that three children who were playing at the ground were killed by the blast.

Quoting eyewitness accounts, the New Vision said about 20 pupils were playing soccer in a vacant field when the device exploded.

According to the paper, there are conflicting accounts of what happened, with some eye witnesses saying the device was hurled at the pupils by an unidentified person.

The initial version of the incident was that the pupils picked up a device and played with it before it detonated right before them.

The blast occurred a few hours before the east African country goes for general elections that will see a new president and legislators elected. Endit