The death toll in Lhubiriha secondary school (Mpondwe) attack has risen to 37 victims, according to Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF).
Defence spokesperson, Brig Gen Felix Kulayigye, Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a rebel group based in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), attacked the privately owned school in Nyabugando Town Council, Karambi Sub-county in Kasese district at around 11:30 pm on Friday.
“Shortly, our forces received this information and moved in quickly. Intelligence revealed that this attack was by suspected ADF rebels about five in number. The 5 Mountain Battalion Commander together with other sister forces advanced to the scene,” said Kulayigye.
He added: “Unfortunately, 37 bodies have been discovered and conveyed to Bwera hospital mortuary and 8 casualties taken to Bwera government hospital, 3 rescued alive and 6 abducted.”
Kulayigye said UPDF embarked on pursuing the perpetrators to rescue the abducted students whom they used to carry the looted food towards Virunga National Park.
“The Chief of Defence Forces Gen Wilson Mbadi and Commander Land Forces Lt Gen Kayanja Muhanga have moved to this area for on-spot assessment.”
Maj Gen Dick Olum, the UPDF Commander of Mountain Division and Operation Shujaa in DR Congo, said some students, especially the boys, were burnt to death while the girls were hacked and others were taken as captives.
“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,” Olum told locals in Kasese District.
In June 1998, 80 students were burnt to death in their dormitories in an ADF attack on Kichwamba Technical Institute near the border of DRC. More than 100 students were abducted.
Currently, Uganda and DR Congo are still holding joint military operations in the eastern Congo to prevent attacks by the ADF.