The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Mpondwe, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT & URN | Reports from Mpondwe indicate suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels attacked Lhubirira secondary school and killed 41, including 38 students.
Killed at the school near the Uganda-DRC border Friday night are 38 students, one guard and two members of the local community who were shot outside the school.
“Last night, we registered a terrorist attack by the ADF rebels, on Lhubirira secondary school, in Mpondwe, that is located about 2 kms, from the DRC border,” police said in a statement. Police reported a dormitory was burnt and a food store looted.
Police said a joint pursuit by the UPDF is ongoing, towards Virunga national park.
WATCH: "We have got information that the rebels spent two nights here before they raided the school. We have sent for choppers to be deployed in our search and rescue operation for the students who were abducted"- Maj Gen Dick Olum, the UPDF commander of mountain division and… pic.twitter.com/P2szB98kQ3
— Daily Monitor (@DailyMonitor) June 17, 2023
According to information from the school administration, the suspected rebels attacked the school at around 10:30 pm on Friday shortly after the students had returned from the evening preps.
Mary Musoki a teacher at the school said the gunmen who also carried other killer objects first stormed the school director’s home and demanded money from his wife who was alone at the time.
Shortly after, they stormed the male and female dormitories cutting their victims into pieces and shooting them. They later set a section of the school block on fire.
From jubilating to mourning! Today Kasese mourns the several killed, injured and abducted last night! I cannot even begin to imagine the horror and terror that my nephew experienced as he was being killed in his school dormitory! May God Rest all the dead in eternal peace.
— Dr. Catherine P. Biira (@CbPromise) June 17, 2023
Tai Ramadhan, the Bwera division DPC says they are searching for other students who are still missing.
The attack on the school brings fresh memories of the 1998 attack on Kichwamba Technical Institute in Kabarole District by ADF rebels. The rebels killed 80 students and abducted several.
On Monday, more than 100 Congolese nationals entered Mpondwe-Lubiriha Town Council following suspected ADF attacks on local communities. Eight people are reported to have been killed during the attack.
