Kampala: In a horrifying act of violence that has shocked the nation, militants linked to the notorious Islamic State group unleashed a barbaric assault, resulting in the merciless deaths of 37 students in western Uganda. This heinous attack stands as the country’s most devastating incident of its kind in over a decade, leaving authorities and citizens reeling in disbelief.
The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a militant organization known for its ruthless tactics, is believed to be responsible for this gruesome onslaught. Late on Friday, a secondary school located in Mpondwe, Kasese district, near the volatile border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, became the tragic battleground for this horrific event, reports NDTV .
The assailants, armed with knives and wielding the destructive power of fire, launched their assault during the dark hours of the night. Dormitories were ruthlessly set ablaze, trapping innocent students within their walls. As if the inferno was not enough, the attackers mercilessly cut down fleeing students with machetes, leaving behind a trail of unimaginable carnage.
“Unfortunately, 37 bodies have been discovered and conveyed to Bwera Hospital mortuary,” lamented Felix Kulayigye, spokesperson for the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF). The survivors, though fortunate to escape the blazing dormitories, were not spared from the brutality as several students sustained severe injuries. Additionally, six individuals, torn from the safety of their school, were kidnapped and taken by the attackers towards the treacherous Virunga National Park, located near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The UPDF has mobilized its forces, initiating a determined pursuit of the perpetrators with the hope of rescuing the abducted students and bringing the culprits to justice. The gravity of this attack demands an immediate and resolute response from the authorities.
WATCH: Maj Gen Dick Olum, the UPDF commander of mountain division and operation Shujaa in DR Congo describes what happened as suspected rebels raided a privately-funded secondary school in Kasese District in western Uganda.
He says 41 people were killed; 37 of whom were students… pic.twitter.com/MzmVEOYKXg— Daily Monitor (@DailyMonitor) June 17, 2023
Joe Walusimbi, the Resident Commissioner for Kasese, expressed his sorrow, confirming that at least 25 of the victims were students at the school. This heartbreaking loss of young lives sends shockwaves through the entire nation and serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of human existence in the face of senseless violence.
This calamity marks the deadliest attack in Uganda since the tragic twin bombings in Kampala in 2010, which claimed the lives of 76 innocent individuals, an act of terror attributed to the Somalia-based extremist group Al-Shabaab.
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Preliminary reports from the police indicate that the authorities were alerted to an imminent “big attack” at Lhubiriha Secondary School in Mpondwe. The school was engulfed in flames upon their arrival, and the bodies of the slain students were discovered scattered throughout the compound. Furthermore, it was evident that the attackers had ransacked the school’s food store, looting valuable supplies.
The proximity of the school to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo raises concerns about the ADF’s infiltration into Uganda. Major General Dick Olum revealed that intelligence had suggested the presence of ADF militants in the area days before the attack, highlighting the urgency for a thorough investigation to ascertain the breakdown in security protocols that allowed this tragedy to unfold.
Olum added, “This is why the rebels locked the boys’ dormitory and set it on fire. The rebels did not lock the girls’ section, and the girls managed to get out, but they were cut with machetes as they ran for safety,
and others were shot.” The attackers’ knowledge of the school’s layout indicates a premeditated and calculated assault, leaving the authorities perplexed as to how such vital information fell into the wrong hands.
The harrowing scene witnessed by investigators reveals the extent of the brutality inflicted upon the victims. Some bodies were so severely burned that their identities have become unrecognizable, necessitating the use of DNA testing for proper identification.
As the search for the perpetrators continues, the focus has turned towards securing additional resources and military support to aid in the rescue operation for the abducted students and to root out the rebel hideouts from which such acts of terror are orchestrated.
The ADF’s affiliation with the Islamic State group has intensified concerns, as the militants seek to establish a foothold in the region. With the ADF gaining prominence in eastern DR Congo since the 1990s, the attacks perpetrated by the group have reached unprecedented levels of brutality. In recent years, some ADF assaults in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been claimed by the Islamic State group, presenting a disturbing escalation in the conflict.
While attacks of this nature are less common within Ugandan borders, the devastating toll inflicted by the ADF in this assault serves as a stark reminder of the ever-present threat posed by extremist organizations.
Regrettably, this is not the first time the ADF has targeted Ugandan schools. In a similar tragedy in June 1998, 80 students lost their lives in an ADF attack on Kichwamba Technical Institute near the Congolese border. Over 100 students were also abducted during that horrifying incident.
The joint offensive launched by Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2021 , aimed at ousting the ADF from their Congolese strongholds, has thus far failed to stem the tide of violence perpetrated by the group. Recognizing the urgent need to address this menace, the United States offered a substantial reward of up to $5 million for any information leading to the capture of the ADF’s leader earlier this year.
As Uganda mourns the loss of innocent lives and grapples with the aftermath of this brutal attack, it is imperative that concerted efforts are made to strengthen security measures, both within the country and in collaboration with neighboring nations. Only through relentless determination and unwavering unity can such acts of terror be prevented, ensuring that future generations can pursue their education without fear of violence and bloodshed.
