Three students of Lhubiriha Secondary School in Kasese district who were abducted on Friday night by the Allied Democratic Force rebels have returned after escaping from the attackers.
Brig. Felix Kulayigye, the UPDF Spokesperson, confirmed this on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, during an exclusive interview with Nexus Media.
According to Brig. Kulayigye, a total of six students were abducted during the attack by the rebels.
Kulayigye said this now brings the total number of students still with the rebels to three, adding that the pursuit is still ongoing.
“Six were abducted, and so far, three have escaped, and they are still holding three,” he said.
On Saturday, June 18th, 2023, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni ordered the immediate deployment of new soldiers to the Rwenzori region to escalate the fight against ADF rebels.
Security also confirmed that a total of 20 suspects, including the head teacher of the school, have been arrested to aid the investigation.
The government had earlier confirmed that six students were abducted by the suspected ADF rebels who attacked Lhubiriha Secondary School last week in Kasese District, killing 41 people.
On Monday, Lieutenant (Rtd) Maate Magwara confirmed that business in Mpondwe Town Council in Kasese district has returned to normal after the recent attack on Lhubiriha Secondary School by the Allied Democratic Force rebels.
He said even schools that had temporarily suspended operations have reopened. He assured residents of their safety and protection against any form of attack.
On Friday night, June 17th, suspected ADF rebels raided Lhubiriha secondary school in Mpondwe town council, murdered about 37 students, and abducted an unspecified number of learners.
Mpondwe is a border town with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and it is believed that the ADF rebels sneaked into Uganda late Friday night to carry out an attack on the school.
Lhubiriha Secondary School had a population of 62 students, and with 37 dead, four survivors, one day scholar, and one student away from school, a total of 19 students are unaccounted for and are now believed to have been kidnapped.
