Kampala, Uganda – (African Boulevard News) – The Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) has been deployed to Mpondwe after an attack on a school left 37 students dead. The attackers, who are believed to be linked to the Islamic State group, hacked and burned the students to death.
The horrific attack took place on Tuesday, June 16th, at a secondary school in the town of Mpondwe, located along Uganda’s border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. The militants targeted a dormitory where the students were sleeping. The attack has been condemned by the Ugandan government, who have vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Following the attack, the UPDF sent troops to the scene, and a manhunt is underway for the suspects. The army has also increased security in the area to prevent any further attacks. The government has promised to provide support to the families of the victims and has declared a period of mourning.
President Yoweri Museveni has condemned the attack and has vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. In a statement, he said, “These heartless and cowardly attacks on innocent children will not be tolerated. We will do everything in our power to bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure that such an attack never happens again.”
The attack has sparked outrage among Ugandans, with many taking to social media to express their condolences to the families of the victims and to call for justice. The hashtag #JusticeForMpondweStudents has been trending on Twitter since the attack.
Amnesty International has also condemned the attack, calling for an independent investigation. “This is a horrific attack on young and innocent school children,” said Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for East Africa, Sarah Jackson. “It is imperative that an independent investigation is conducted to bring the perpetrators to justice and to ensure that such an attack never happens again.”
The attack on the school in Mpondwe has highlighted the growing threat of terrorism in the region. Uganda has been a target of extremist groups in the past, including the Somalia-based al-Shabaab group. The government has stepped up its efforts to combat terrorism in recent years, but attacks like this show that more needs to be done to protect innocent civilians.
