A joint security team have embarked a hot pursuit for a section of the Allied Democratic Force rebels who conducted attack in Kasese district on Friday night.

Police spokesperson, Fred Enanga said the rebels attacked Lhubirira Secondary School, in Mpondwe, Kasese district, about two kilometers from the DRC border.

Enanga said,  so far 25 bodies have been recovered from the school and transferred to Bwera Hospital and some eight victims are in critical condition at Bwera Hospital.

“ A dormitory was burnt and a food store looted. So far 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,” said Enanga.

Joe Walusimbi, the Kasese Resident District Commissioner said unconfirmed number of students have also been abducted by ADF rebels.

This is the first attack to be conducted by the ADF rebels inside Uganda after several years.

“Very terrible news regarding last night’s terrorist attack on Lhubirira SS in Mpondwe, Kasese. These cowardly attacks on innocent civilians should be condemned in the strongest terms possible. I am sure that our able forces will pursue and bring the attackers to book. My condolences to the families of the victims and prayers for quick recovery to the injured,” said the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa.

In 2022, UPDF and the Congolese Army launched operation Shujaa in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo to hunt for ADF, since then several camps were destroyed and overrun by joint forces.

Early this, more than 40 ADF rebels who had attempted to cross into Uganda from South Western Uganda were all killed by the UPDF soldiers.