25 Students Killed, 8 Injured as ADF Rebels Attack School in Kasese

Allied Democratic Forces (ADF )rebels attacked Lhubirira secondary school, in Mpondwe on Friday night leaving 25 students dead and eight others injured.

Lhubirira secondary school is located about 2 kms from the Uganda – Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) border.

“A dormitory was burnt and a food store looted. So far 25 bodies have been recovered from the school and transferred to Bwera Hospital. Also recovered are 8 victims, who remain in critical condition at Bwera Hospital,” said Police spokesperson Fred Enanga in a statement on Saturday morning.

Enanga said a hot pursuit by the UPDF and the police is ongoing, towards Virunga national park.

“We do offer our deepest condolences to the families of those who have been killed, and offer our prayers and thoughts to those who have been wounded,” said Enanga adding that more details will be availed in due course.

Early this week, Ugandan security said they were on alert at the western border following an ADF attack in the neighboring community.

This is not the first time gunmen have attacked schools in the area. On June 8, 1998, ADF rebels attacked Kichwamba Technical Institute where they killed 80 students, left others injured and several abducted.

In November 2021 terrorists suspected to be ADF blew up themselves in two bombs in Kampala leaving scores dead and others injured.

Uganda would later that year launch a full-blown operation against the rebels in neighboring Congo in a joint operation with the Congolese Army dubbed Operation Shuujaa