On 16 June 2023 rebels of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a jihadist group linked to the Islamic State,[1] attacked a secondary school in Mpondwe, a town in western Uganda's Kasese District on the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 42 people were killed, including 38 students; 8 were injured.[2][3]
| Mpondwe school massacre | |
|---|---|
| Part of the Allied Democratic Forces insurgency | |
| Location | Mpondwe Lhubiriha Secondary School, Mpondwe, Kasese District, Uganda |
| Coordinates | 00°01′41″N 29°44′09″E / 0.02806°N 29.73583°E |
| Date | 16 June 2023 23:30 (EAT: GMT+3) |
Attack type |
|
| Weapons | Petrol bombs, machetes |
| Deaths | 42 |
| Injured | 8 |
| Perpetrators | Allied Democratic Forces |
| Motive | Jihadism |
Background
editThe Mpondwe Lhubiriha Secondary School is a boarding school located in Mpondwe, Kasese District. It is a privately owned facility, built by Canadian-led NGO Partnerships for Opportunity Development Association (PODA).[4] At the time of the June 2023 attack, 63 pupils lived there. According to statements made by First Lady and Education Minister Janet Museveni, ownership and control of the school were a matter of dispute.[5][6]
In 1987 Christian insurgent group the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) began an insurgency in Uganda. The largest of their mass kidnappings was from a secondary school in 1996 in Aboke, Apac District, Northern Region. Islamist insurgent groups carried out suicide bombings in 2010 in Kampala, as well as in 2021 in Kampala and in the Central Region's Mpigi and Nakaseke Districts. The attack on the Mpondwe Lhubiriha Secondary School marked the first attack by Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) jihadists (who are allied to the LRA) on a Ugandan school in 25 years: in June 1998, the Kichwamba massacre took place carried out by ADF at the Uganda Technical College, Kichwamba, near the border with Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing 80 students who were burnt alive in their dormitories and abducting over 100 others.[6]
Incident
editThe rebel attack on the school occurred at about 23:30 EAT. A group of five assailants set fire to the boys' dormitory and looted a food store during the assault. Forty-two people were killed during the attack, including 38 students, a school guard, and three local residents;[7][8] according to the police, the deceased ranged in age from 12 to 95.[9] Of the students killed, 20 were girls who were hacked to death, while 18 were boys who died during the arson.[10] Eight people were severely wounded and hospitalized in critical condition. Preliminary reports indicated that six others were abducted, nearly all girl pupils.[11] Some of the bodies suffered extensive burns, necessitating DNA tests for identification purposes.[6] The attackers also confronted the wife of the school's director in her home on the compound, but because she was breastfeeding, they allowed her and her children to escape before setting fire to the house.[12]
Perpetrators
editAccording to major general Dick Olum of the Uganda People's Defence Force, security forces had received intelligence indicating the presence of rebels in the border area on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) side for a minimum of two days prior to the attack. The National Police identified the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) as responsible for the attack.[6]
Aftermath
editFred Enanga, the national police spokesperson, stated that a significant number of the bodies were transported to Bwera Hospital. Authorities stated that soldiers pursued the group, which fled in the direction of Virunga National Park in the DRC. In addition, the Ugandan Army has mobilized aircraft to assist in locating the rebel group.[6]
In a statement on 19 June, Enanga announced the arrest of 20 persons suspected of collaborating with the ADF, including the school's director and headmaster. He also said that the number of abducted pupils remained uncertain, but was about six.[9] On 21 June, the Ugandan forces rescued three of the abducted students inside the Virunga National Park in the DRC. Military spokesman Felix Kulayigye said two terrorists were killed, and two guns were recovered during the rescue. A woman with two children who had been kidnapped outside the school was also rescued.[13]
The Ministry of Education and Sports compensated each of the bereaved families with 5 million shillings (roughly US$1,350, £1,058 or €1,238) to assist them with funeral expenses. The injured students received 2 million shillings to help cover their medical bills.[14]
International reactions
editThe African Union, the United Nations, France, and the United States strongly condemned the attack and presented their condolences to the victims' families.[15][16]
The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, said in his speech that "Those responsible for this appalling act must be brought to justice."[17]
References
edit- ^ West, Sunguta (31 May 2019). "Has Islamic State Really Entered the Congo and is an IS Province There a Gamble?" (PDF). Terrorism Monitor. 17 (11). Jamestown Foundation: 7–9. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 July 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
- ^ "Parents submit DNA samples to ID Uganda school massacre victims". Al Jazeera. 20 June 2023. Archived from the original on 30 August 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
- ^ "Dozens killed, six abducted in an attack on Uganda school". Al Jazeera. 17 June 2023. Archived from the original on 23 July 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
- ^ "School targeted in Uganda massacre was built with help from Canadian non-profit". CBC News. 18 June 2023. Archived from the original on 19 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
- ^ Kamurungi, Elizabeth (17 June 2023). "Attacked school had ownership wrangles: Janet". The Monitor. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
- ^ a b c d e "Uganda: 25 killed by militants in school attack". BBC News. 17 June 2023. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
- ^ "Ugandan border town buries victims of rebel massacre that left 42 dead, mostly students". Associated Press News. 18 June 2023. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
- ^ Yee, Isaac; Feleke, Bethlehem; Lau, Chris (17 June 2023). "ISIS-linked rebel group attacks Ugandan school, killing dozens". CNN. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
- ^ a b "Kasese attack: Police says 20 'collaborators' arrested". New Vision. 19 June 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ^ "Uganda school attack: What we know so far". Al Jazeera. 18 June 2023. Archived from the original on 11 October 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ^ Mukiibi, Hellen (17 June 2023). "ADF Attack Kasese, Over 25 Civilians Confirmed Dead". New Vision. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
- ^ Matege, Steven Denis; Amanyire, Samuel (17 June 2023). "Kasese ADF attack: 'Breastfeeding saved my life'". New Vision. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ^ "Three students abducted in deadly school attack rescued by Ugandan forces". CNN. Archived from the original on 22 June 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
- ^ Amanyire, Samuel (18 June 2023). "Kasese ADF attack: Families receive sh5m each for burial expenses". New Vision. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
- ^ "Uganda detains 20 rebel 'collaborators' after student massacre". Reuters. 19 June 2023. Archived from the original on 23 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
- ^ "Dozens killed in militant attack on school in western Uganda". France 24. 17 June 2023. Archived from the original on 19 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
- ^ "Families in Uganda bury their dead after school massacre". The Guardian. Agence France-Presse. 18 June 2023. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 19 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
