By Annet Nakanwagi and Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
A section of leaders from the Rwenzori sub-region has said the outlawed Kasese School attack was allowed to flourish because of the “negligence” of the country’s security forces calling for security coordination to jointly combat terrorism in the region.
On Friday night (June 16), Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels allegedly attacked Lubhiriha Secondary School in Mpondwe Kasese and killed 37 students, abducted others and also killed three other adults.
Speaking to journalists at the FDC headquarters in Najjanankumbi Kampala, Hon. Robert Centenary, said the gaps in the security forces made it easy for the rebels to attack the school and neighbouring communities leaving 42 people dead.
“The Commander-in-Chief should take actions on the security officers negligent on duty for not providing intelligent report on the attack,” he said
He urges security agencies to reinforce efforts to gather intelligence reports and inform the government on the information received.
The former Busongora county south MP candidate, Aloysius Kighema Baguma demands that government gives a comprehensive report and explanations on the details of the abducted students.
At least six students were abducted and taken as porters of food looted from the school’s store and their whereabouts remain a mystery.
There has been reports on alleged disputes regarding the school’s ownership however, leaders refuted the claims stating that the method and logic of the attack doesn’t reasonate to the ownership of the school but, a highly planned attack involving trained armed personnel.
“In his first media briefing, Maj. Gen Dick Olum, the UPDF Commander in charge of the Mountain Division said they were aware of the attacks, so he is responsible for answering questions on the attack,” said Hon. Florence Kabugho, Kasese Woman MP.
The FDC President, Patrick Oboi Amuriat asked government to adequately compensate the families of the abducted students and those whose members lost lives in the attack.
“We call upon the UPDF to prioritize the protection of our boarders to prevent any rebel incursions from Congo into Uganda,” Amuriat said “We urge Mr. Museveni to refrain from attempting to showcase military might to neighbouring countries when he has yet to secure our own borders. It’s reminiscent of a man who neglects his family’s well-being but boasts to others in the village about his ability to provide for them.”
