
“Death toll now stands at 50!
UPDF soldiers have recovered more bodies suspected to be of those abducted by ADF rebels who attacked Mpondwe Lhubiriha secondary school, Kasese district on June 16, 2023,around 11:30pm” (Rise News Uganda Network, 19.06.2023).
“Following the brutal attack on Lhubiriha Secondary School in Kasese on Friday night, Kamwenge catholic parish priest Rev Fr James Isabakaki has asked members of the public to be security conscious and report to the authorities about any suspicious person” (87.9 FM VOK Radio, 19.06.2023).
“Following the attack on a school the Deputy RDC incharge of Busongora County said security had widened her investigations over whether the reported school ownership wrangles and the neighbouring community in the rebel ranks could have aided the deadly attack” (Kasese Guide Radio, 19.06.2023).
“Update: Reporter Ali Mivule updates us from Lhubiriha Secondary School in Mpondwe, Kasese, Western Uganda. Burials for the attack victims started yesterday. The report indicates relatives are anxious about the number of students suspected to have been abducted by the rebels. Families await DNA results for identification” (NTV Uganda, 19.06.2023).
Kasese is yet again hurt and suffering. This isn’t new and sadly won’t be the last. The innocent dies, while the evil prospers. That’s why children and people connected to them has been hurt. There is something not told by the authorities and by the ones in office these days. Because the stories are conflicting and not addressing the hurt.
This sort of sinister act needs an independent investigation by an outside body. Since no one really trust the Uganda Police Force or any other Security Agency in the Republic. They have in the past violated people in Kasese, and it could have happened again.
The Allied Defence Forces (ADF) haven’t taken responsibility or issued a statement in concern to the attack. Therefore, the allegations and pinning them is questionable at best. The ADF should have come out within 24 hours after the attack. However, it is radio-silence and no proof of it.
That’s why speculations are going everywhere, and people are claiming “ADF” is a scapegoat for someone else. It is easy to pin a rebel-group, but weird how it could get access and be able to do it inside the territories. Especially how close it was to a military base and with several of intelligence organizations have warnings about it in advance. That is just making the attack worse and seem very unprofessional of the authorities. They knew something was up, but they let it happen.
The victims and families will never be the same. The culprits will be unknown and will be politicised without any concerns of the grieving families. There so many who is scorned and suffering because of this. Kasese is yet again bleeding and for no apparent reason. No justification to do this and to innocent civilians who was just part of a school.
Right now everything stated would just be hearsay and the talk of the town. When we don’t have solid evidence or proof on the matter. Neither is their witness accounts on the conspiracy to attack the school. Until then, it would only be mere speculation and that will not bring the lives back or help the ones grieving. Instead it would only hurt and possibly get them to ask more questions about “why” and “how come” it happened right there and then.
We can only be uncertain right now. Lives have been lost and people abducted by a group of violent people who had no issues to trigger a lethal force on innocent civilians. That’s what they did and now Kasese district must suffer the consequences. It is just tragic and grim. To read the reports and hear about what went down. People are hurting and it’s a tragedy unfolding right in front of our eyes. Peace.









