Local officials report that an Isis-affiliated rebel group attacked a school in Uganda, killing at least 38 students and three adults.
The assault happened at Lhubiriha School in the Kasese district of western Uganda, not far from the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
According to Fred Enanga, a spokesman for the national police, the attackers burned down a dormitory and stole food from the school's shops, as reported by The Independent.
According to Major General Dick Olum of the Ugandan army, several students, especially girls, have been kidnapped by the organization while others of the children were burned or hacked to death.
The attack happened on Friday night, and 25 people were first reported dead. Later on Saturday, authorities reported that 41 fatalities had been found, including 38 schoolchildren, one security officer, and two locals who had been shot outside the building.
The attackers were members of a terrorist organization known as The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), which has sworn allegiance to Isis, according to the authorities.
According to officials, bodies were transferred to Bwera Hospital. There are still eight persons in critical condition.
According to Ugandan army Major General Dick Olum, some youngsters were burned or hacked to death.
He claimed that the organization has also kidnapped other students at the institution, especially girls. It is unknown how old the victims were.
DNA tests will be required to identify some of the victims because they were allegedly severely burned.
The attackers are alleged to have set the students' bedding on fire and are suspected of having planted bombs nearby. Social media is rife with images of the school's structures on fire.
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Attacks in Uganda
Uganda has been plagued by a series of attacks in recent years, most of which have been carried out by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a Ugandan rebel group fighting the government for years.
The ADF is a group that has been accused of carrying out massacres, beheadings, and other atrocities. The group is believed to have links to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.
The attacks have caused widespread fear and displacement in Uganda. The government has responded by deploying troops to the affected areas and launching airstrikes against the ADF. However, the group remains a serious threat to security in Uganda.
The attacks in Uganda are a reminder of the ongoing threat posed by terrorism in Africa. The continent has been a hotbed of terrorist activity in recent years, with groups like the ADF, Boko Haram, and al-Shabaab carrying out deadly attacks.
The international community needs to do more to help African countries combat terrorism. This includes providing financial and logistical support, training, and expertise.
