Deadliest Attack in the History of Uganda - 40+ Massacred including Students by Armed Rebels

Deadliest Attack in the History of Uganda

Boys' Dorm Set On Fire, Girls Cut With Machetes

The border town Mpondwe, western Uganda witnessed one of the most horrific violent attacks by Militants linked to the Islamic State group, who massacred at least 41 people, mostly students, in the country's deadliest such attack in over a decade, officials said on Saturday.

The military said it was pursuing the attackers from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), who also abducted six people during the attack (at around 11:30pm on Friday, June 16, 2023) on the Lhubiriha school, before fleeing back towards the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In a grisly late-night assault, officials and witnesses said guns and knives were used to attack, dormitories were set ablaze at Lhubiriha Secondary School in Mpondwe.

"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 transferred to Bwera Hospital. Also recovered are 8 victims, who remain in critical condition at Bwera Hospital. 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. More details will be availed in due course.

Tweeted Ugandan Police

Islamic State group has called its local offshoot, "one of the deadliest militias over the border", as both Police and army officials blamed the ADF for the attack.

Sylvester Mapozi, the town council mayor of Mpondwe-Lhubiriha where the attack occurred, said 39 students were killed at the school.

"Within the community, as they (attackers) were going back, they also murdered two people, a female and a male. This is bringing up the number to 41," he said.

As many of the deceased were burned beyond recognition while other students were still unaccounted for, he said: "We are yet to identify and establish their whereabouts."

Mumbere Edgar Dido, 16, said the attackers arrived at his dormitory carrying machetes and guns and opened fire from outside, sending everyone diving under their beds.

"They continued to shoot through the windows, then set fire to our room while we were inside, before going to the girls' dormitory," he said.

Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces (UPDF) spokesman Felix Kulayigye said the six kidnapped were taken towards Virunga National Park, a vast expanse which straddles the border.

"UPDF embarked on pursuing the perpetrators to rescue the abducted students."

Defence ministry released press note on the attack, however Police have not released details about the victims' ages or how many were students.