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| Uganda school attack: Pupils among 40 killed by militants linked to Islamic State group | Uganda school attack: Pupils among 40 killed by militants linked to Islamic State group |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Some of the victims died as attackers burnt a dormitory | |
| Around 40 people, mostly pupils, have been killed at a school in western Uganda by rebels linked to the Islamic State group. | Around 40 people, mostly pupils, have been killed at a school in western Uganda by rebels linked to the Islamic State group. |
| A further eight people remain in a critical condition after the attack on Lhubiriha secondary school in Mpondwe. | A further eight people remain in a critical condition after the attack on Lhubiriha secondary school in Mpondwe. |
| Boys who were staying in dormitories at the school are among the dead. | Boys who were staying in dormitories at the school are among the dead. |
| The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) - a Ugandan group based in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) - have been blamed for Friday's attack. | The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) - a Ugandan group based in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) - have been blamed for Friday's attack. |
| Warning: Some people may find details in this story distressing. | Warning: Some people may find details in this story distressing. |
| Many of the bodies were transferred to Bwera Hospital, national police spokesperson Fred Enanga said. | Many of the bodies were transferred to Bwera Hospital, national police spokesperson Fred Enanga said. |
| The attack happened at around 23:30 local time (20:30 GMT) on Friday at the school in the Kasese district in western Uganda. | The attack happened at around 23:30 local time (20:30 GMT) on Friday at the school in the Kasese district in western Uganda. |
| Over 60 people are educated at the school, most of whom live there. | Over 60 people are educated at the school, most of whom live there. |
| ADF rebels burnt a dormitory and a food store was also looted during the incident, Mr Enanga said. | ADF rebels burnt a dormitory and a food store was also looted during the incident, Mr Enanga said. |
| Some of the boys were burnt or hacked to death, Major General Dick Olum from the Ugandan army told the media. | Some of the boys were burnt or hacked to death, Major General Dick Olum from the Ugandan army told the media. |
| Others at the school, mostly girls, have been abducted by the group, he added. | Others at the school, mostly girls, have been abducted by the group, he added. |
| The ages of the victims are not known. | The ages of the victims are not known. |
| Some of the bodies are said to have been badly burnt and DNA tests will need to be carried out to identify them. | Some of the bodies are said to have been badly burnt and DNA tests will need to be carried out to identify them. |
| The attackers are said to have torched the students' mattresses and are also thought to have detonated bombs in the region. | The attackers are said to have torched the students' mattresses and are also thought to have detonated bombs in the region. |
| Photos of burning buildings at the school have circulated on social media. | Photos of burning buildings at the school have circulated on social media. |
| Members of the wider community are possibly among the dead. A number of students remain unaccounted for and the exact number of those who died is still unclear. | Members of the wider community are possibly among the dead. A number of students remain unaccounted for and the exact number of those who died is still unclear. |
| Soldiers are pursuing ADF insurgents towards the DRC's Virunga national park - Africa's oldest and largest national park which is home to rare species, including mountain gorillas. | Soldiers are pursuing ADF insurgents towards the DRC's Virunga national park - Africa's oldest and largest national park which is home to rare species, including mountain gorillas. |
| Militias including the ADF also use the vast expanse, which borders Uganda and Rwanda, as a hideout. | Militias including the ADF also use the vast expanse, which borders Uganda and Rwanda, as a hideout. |
| "Our forces are pursuing the enemy to rescue those abducted and destroy this group," defence spokesperson Felix Kulayigye said on Twitter. | "Our forces are pursuing the enemy to rescue those abducted and destroy this group," defence spokesperson Felix Kulayigye said on Twitter. |
| The Ugandan army has also deployed helicopters to help track the rebel group over mountainous terrain. | The Ugandan army has also deployed helicopters to help track the rebel group over mountainous terrain. |
| Uganda and the DRC have held joint military operations in the east of DR Congo to prevent attacks by the ADF. | Uganda and the DRC have held joint military operations in the east of DR Congo to prevent attacks by the ADF. |
| Security forces had intelligence that rebels were in the border area on the DRC side for at least two days before Friday night's attack, Major General Olum said. | Security forces had intelligence that rebels were in the border area on the DRC side for at least two days before Friday night's attack, Major General Olum said. |
| The deadly episode follows last week's attack by suspected ADF fighters in a village in the DRC near to the Ugandan border. Over 100 villagers fled to Uganda but have since returned. | The deadly episode follows last week's attack by suspected ADF fighters in a village in the DRC near to the Ugandan border. Over 100 villagers fled to Uganda but have since returned. |
| The attack on the school, located less than two kilometres (1.25 miles) from the DRC border, is the first such attack on a Ugandan school in 25 years. | The attack on the school, located less than two kilometres (1.25 miles) from the DRC border, is the first such attack on a Ugandan school in 25 years. |
| In June 1998, 80 students were burnt to death in their dormitories in an ADF attack on Kichwamba Technical Institute near the border of DRC. More than 100 students were abducted. | In June 1998, 80 students were burnt to death in their dormitories in an ADF attack on Kichwamba Technical Institute near the border of DRC. More than 100 students were abducted. |
| The ADF was created in eastern Uganda in the 1990s and took up arms against long-serving President, Yoweri Museveni, alleging government persecution of Muslims. | The ADF was created in eastern Uganda in the 1990s and took up arms against long-serving President, Yoweri Museveni, alleging government persecution of Muslims. |
| Muslims make up almost 14% of the Ugandan population, according to official government figures, though the Ugandan Muslim Supreme Council estimates the figure is closer to 35%. | Muslims make up almost 14% of the Ugandan population, according to official government figures, though the Ugandan Muslim Supreme Council estimates the figure is closer to 35%. |
| Some members of the Ugandan Muslim community say they face discrimination in public life, including in education and the workplace. | Some members of the Ugandan Muslim community say they face discrimination in public life, including in education and the workplace. |
| After defeat by the Ugandan army in 2001, the ADF relocated to North Kivu province in the DRC. | After defeat by the Ugandan army in 2001, the ADF relocated to North Kivu province in the DRC. |
| The group's principal founder, Jamil Makulu, was arrested in Tanzania in 2015 and is in custody in a Ugandan prison. | The group's principal founder, Jamil Makulu, was arrested in Tanzania in 2015 and is in custody in a Ugandan prison. |
| ADF rebels have been operating from inside the DRC for the past two decades. | ADF rebels have been operating from inside the DRC for the past two decades. |
| Makulu's successor, Musa Seka Baluku, reportedly first pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group in 2016, but it was not until April 2019 that IS first acknowledged its activity in the area. | Makulu's successor, Musa Seka Baluku, reportedly first pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group in 2016, but it was not until April 2019 that IS first acknowledged its activity in the area. |
| Islamic State as a group has been mostly defeated, though there are significant numbers of IS-affiliated militant groups across the Middle East and Africa. | Islamic State as a group has been mostly defeated, though there are significant numbers of IS-affiliated militant groups across the Middle East and Africa. |
| After years of not operating openly in Uganda, the ADF was blamed for a series of attacks in late 2021 including suicide bombings in Uganda's capital Kampala. | After years of not operating openly in Uganda, the ADF was blamed for a series of attacks in late 2021 including suicide bombings in Uganda's capital Kampala. |
| The DRC allowed Uganda to cross the border to assist in efforts against the ADF in 2021 | The DRC allowed Uganda to cross the border to assist in efforts against the ADF in 2021 |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Uganda | Uganda |