Mpondwe, 17 June, 2023 (GNP): The nation of Uganda is in mourning following a tragic terrorist attack on a secondary school in western Uganda, leaving at least 37 people dead and eight others injured.
The assailants, identified as members of the extremist group Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), launched the attack on Friday night, targeting a school in Mpondwe, a town near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to the police spokesman, Fred Enanga, the militants set fire to a dormitory and looted food supplies from a store during the violent assault. Eight individuals are currently in critical condition and receiving treatment at hospitals.
The army and police forces are in pursuit of the attackers, who are believed to be heading towards the Virunga National Park, located in the neighboring Congo.
. @FredEnanga1 "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. A dormitory was burnt and a food store looted. So far 25 bodies have been recovered from the school and… pic.twitter.com/3WVfY2q9lz
— Uganda Police Force (@PoliceUg) June 17, 2023
This incident marks one of the deadliest acts of terrorism in Uganda in recent years, since the coordinated suicide bombings in Kampala in late 2021 that claimed the lives of three individuals.
The joint operation, codenamed Shujaa aims to eradicate the ADF’s bases in the region. Lawmakers, opposition parties, and Western embassies have united in condemning the attack and urged the government to take decisive measures to prevent such incidents in the future. There is a collective call for a swift and thorough investigation to ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime face justice.
The affected area witnessed a significant military presence following the attack, with aid workers providing support and responding to the scene. The chief of the country’s defense forces and the commander of the land forces are expected to visit the affected area, highlighting the government’s commitment to addressing the situation.
Major General Dick Olum, commander of Uganda’s military operation in Congo, revealed that the rebel members had spent two nights in the town before launching the attack on the school. He expressed deep sorrow over the loss of innocent lives and vowed to conduct DNA tests on the charred bodies to identify the victims. The government has also deployed aircraft to aid in the search for those abducted during the attack.
The government of Uganda called upon the public to remain vigilant, report any suspicious activities, and stand united against terrorism.