The opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Party has mourned their Youth Secretary Macklin Itungo who was killed by the Allied Democratic Forces (rebels) in the Friday, June 16, 2023 night attack.

Engineer Patrick Amuriat Oboi, the FDC party President, while addressing the weekly press conference on Monday, June 19, 2023, eulogized Itungo who has been responsible for Students Affairs of Nyamirami Youth Council in Karambi Sub County, Bukonzo West Constituency.

Amuriat, on behalf of the party extended condolences to the people of Kasese during this time of unprecedented grief.

“As a Nation, we mourn the loss of young lives at the hands of assailants whom the government claims to be ADF rebels from the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),” Amuriat said.

However, Amuriat expressed his dissatisfaction to the government and UPDF for the attack that left over 37 students dead, eight critically injured and six abducted.

“We are informed that about 42 lives were lost, to which three were Adults and 39 Children,” he said.

According to Amuriat, the Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) recently deployed soldiers to Congo under the operation named Shujja.

FDC says that the objective of the operation was to eradicate the ADF rebels from Congo and effectively bring back the much desired peace that has evaded Uganda in decades.

Amuriat added that, despite three months passing since the deployment of UPDF soldiers in DRC, there have been no tangible results. Taxpayer’s money is being spent without any visible outcomes to justify this expenditure.

“In this particular attack, we were informed that the rebels infiltrated Uganda from Congo, carried out their mission by hacking, shooting or burning, and returned with captives and provisions like food supplies without any hindrance,” Amuriat said.

“We also curiously note that this particular attack came two days after the welcome release of the Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu and triumphant return of the Royal Guards to their homes,” he stressed.

The affected school is located 800m within the proximity of a police station, 1.5km of a Division Police headquarters and two km of a UPDF barracks, according to Amuriat.

He also noted that they also have information to the effect that those who committed this heinous crime were noticed two days within the area they struck, and had two weeks before attacked Kasinde town across the border from Mpondwe killing a number of people.

“As a nation, we derive direct benefit from these continued foreign deployments, which have continued to inflict pain on Ugandans, like the recent loss of our UPDF soldiers in Somalia,” Amuriat added.

However, according to UPDF Spokesperson, Brig Gen Felix Kulayigye in a statement, UPDF soldiers are pursuing the assailants to have the six abducted students rescued.

According to the security reports, so far, 20 suspected rebels have been arrested and security tightened at border and the surrounding areas. Businesses have returned to normal and are currently in operation.

The government has compensated each affected family with Shs 5M to help in burial of arrangements of the deceased.

FDC implored government to compensate all families that lost their beloved ones with higher amounts when the investigations are complete, and called for enhancement of security at the Uganda-DRC border to prevent future ADF incursions.