Suspects linked to brutal school attack in Uganda arrested

Head teacher, director of school are also in custody to ‘give us answers to certain questions,’ say police

KAMPALA, Uganda 

Three individuals have been arrested in connection with the horrific attack on Lhubiriha Secondary School in Kasese District, which resulted in the death of 42 people.  

Among the deceased, 37 were students, with 17 of them being burned beyond recognition. Additionally, six others were abducted during the incident.  

“At least three arrests have been made, we also have the head teacher and the director of the school as part of our inquiries. They need to give us answers to certain questions,” a police spokesperson said during a press briefing in Kampala on Monday.

Police added that 23 bodies have so far been handed over to immediate friends, relatives, and guardians for burial. 

“All the 17 burnt bodies were male and the burns were distributed all over the body; the front, the back and one of the victims had an additional gunshot wound which means they shot at him while inside the dormitory before they burnt it,” he added.

The Kasese Resident District Commissioner, Lt Joe Walusimbi, said that security operatives collaborated with local residents and obtained intelligence information that facilitated the arrests in connection with the attack. 

Lhubiriha Secondary School is located in the town of Kasese, situated along the border between Uganda and Congo. The school provides education to children between the ages of 13 and 18.

Major Dick Olum, commander of the Uganda People’s Defense Force operation in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, said the rebels had spent two days in the town – where they were led and shown around by local residents – before the killings.

Turkish Ambassador to Uganda Mehmet Fatih Ak condemned the attack. 

“Deeply saddened by the cowardly terrorist attack on Lhubirira secondary school in Mpondwe, targeting of children is beyond comprehension. I strongly condemn this heinous attack and extend my deepest condolences to the families of the victims,” he said.

The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), classified as a “terrorist” group by the US, is considered the deadliest among numerous armed militias operating in the mineral-rich eastern Congo.

Originating in eastern Uganda during the 1990s, the ADF emerged in opposition to President Yoweri Museveni, who came to power in 1986 following five-year guerrilla warfare.