The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has condemned the Friday night attack on a school in Kasese, western Uganda.
In a statement on Saturday, June 17, the UN body condemned the killing of more than 25 students and the abduction of several others at Lhubiriha Secondary School in Uganda, demanding the immediate release of those abducted.
"UNICEF condemns the attack on Lubiriha Secondary School in Kasese District, the killing of 25 students and abducting an unidentified number," UNICEF said.
The abductions took place on the night of Friday, June 16. Ironically, June 16 is the same day gazetted to commemorate the Day of the African Child.
"We stand in solidarity with the students, the teaching staff, the school authorities, families of those impact and the people of Uganda in this sad moment."
In another statement by Uganda's Ministry of Defence, a group of suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) militants torched the school leaving 37 people dead and others injured.
The group is also believed to have abducted six students whom they used to carry looted food towards Virunga National Park.
The country's Defence Forces now say that its priority is to rescue the abducted individuals and protect Uganda from terrorists.
"UPDF has embarked on pursuing the perpetrators to rescue the abducted students and remains committed to its mandate to protect the people of Uganda and their property," said Defence Spokesperson, Felix Kulayigye.
