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The First Lady and Minister for Education, Mrs. Janet Museveni, has condemned the attack on Mpondwe Lhubiriha Secondary School in Kasese district.

The terrorist incident, which happened on Friday night, claimed 37 students according to Mrs. Museveni.

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Below is her full statement;

My fellow Ugandans

It is a sad day in our nation, we woke up to the tragic news of a terrorist attack on Mpondwe Lhubiliriha Secondary School in Nyabugando Parish, Karambi Sub-County in Kasese District. This is a boarding school situated near the DRC border.

We have learnt that a terrorist group killed 37 children altogether while five are admitted in hospital and still fighting for their lives. Originally 25 were reported dead but our security people in that area later informed us that they are 37.

This is a private school that was built by an NGO led by Peter Hunter, who works in both Uganda and DRC. The school has 2 dormitories, a girls’ dormitory and a boys’ dormitory. The boys had locked themselves in the dormitory and because these evil people could not enter they threw a petro bomb inside the dormitory which started the fire that burnt the 17 boys.

The girls on the other hand opened their door and tried to run out but the terrorists cut them with pangas.

This is how they killed the twenty girls and the 17 boys, with only five escaping. The numbers are still not clear.

This NGO had sent in an Auditors team early last week, which spent two days at school auditing their books, we are told they left on Thursday and this tragic incident happened on Friday. This does not necessarily mean that we relate this incident to the death of the students, but this is part of the information we have.

I wanted to go there myself to see what happened and to do an on-spot assessment of the situation but I was reminded that I am still in quarantine, therefore I could not do that. That is when I asked my Colleague Hon. Muyingo who quickly flew to the school together with the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Sports and the Commissioner in charge of Private Schools to do an on-spot assessment. 

The President has helped us with some support for the affected families, to help arrange the funerals and try to manage the situation in this very difficult time. 

When Hon. Muyingo comes back, we will get more information and we will pass it on to the nation.

For now, the Government through the security agencies is trying to follow up on what actually happened and it is on top of the situation. Justice will prevail. 

I appeal to all people of goodwill to pray for those families and the community in that area. I further appeal to the communities to be vigilant as the security forces do their part to ensure the safety of our children in schools.

I appeal to the media fraternity to report responsibly bearing in mind that many people are grieving and all they need now is comfort and hope. 

I am confident that God who sees all things will lead UPDF to track down those evil people and they will pay for it.

Therefore, on behalf of the Government of Uganda, the Ministry of Education and Sports, and on my own behalf, I express our sincere condolences and deepest sympathies to the bereaved families, students, staff of Lhubiliriha Secondary School and the community on this tragedy.  

Thank you and God bless you!

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