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Questions Remain for Parents Whose Children Were Abducted by Suspected ADF Rebels in Kasese

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Stephen Bwambale, who son Festo Muhindo Siryako, aged 22 is among those suspected to be among the abductees says they have never been updated on the rescue operation and thinks it’s a sign that government failed in its military efforts.
13 Jan 2025 07:59
The three survivors of Mpondwe-Lhubiriha SS ADF attack. Photo by Basaijja Idd
Parents of children abducted by suspected rebels of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) have expressed deep despair, questioning the government's silence on the issue since the incident occurred. On June 16, 2023, suspected ADF rebels attacked Mpondwe-Lhubiriha Secondary School in Kasese District, killing over 43 people, including 37 students, while others were abducted. 

Following the attack, Maj. Gen. Dick Olum, the then Commander of Operation Shujja, addressed the community at Mpondwe Muslim Secondary School, stating that, based on investigations, three students were abducted. Despite the government's claims of pursuing the rebels and hoping to rescue the abductees, nearly two years have passed, and some parents have lost all hope of ever being reunited with their children. In their grief, they are now seeking support to organize mass prayers in their respective homes.

Stephen Bwambale, whose son Festo Muhindo Siryako, aged 22, is among the suspected abductees, expressed frustration over the lack of updates on the rescue operation. He believes the government's failure to provide information signals that the military efforts have not been successful. Bwambale, whose son was in senior three at the time of the abduction, pleaded with the government to consider the pain of the affected families and reach out to them.

"I don’t have hope that my son is still alive; that pains us every day as parents, as a family, and how I wish the government could facilitate these families to have a memorial service," Bwambale said. Safatia Kule, another parent from Ihandiro Sub-county whose son went missing, echoed these concerns, lamenting that the affected parents had been abandoned and were in desperate need of constant psychosocial support. 

Morris Kule's father added that many parents are now hesitant to send their children to boarding schools due to fear of further abductions. Sanasio Mupasula, the Chairperson of the Parents’ Association, which includes those whose children were killed or abducted by the rebels, said the group was formed to share support and offer a platform for collective prayer and seeking external assistance.

"As affected parents and families, we had to create a platform that can bring us together to pray and seek external support," Mupasula said. Bishop Moses Okum of the Pentecostal Church in Kasese, who recently donated sewing machines to some of the families affected by the attack, stressed the need for government intervention. He urged the government to offer special support to these families to help them come to terms with the realities of their loss.

The State Minister for ICT and National Guidance, Godfrey Kabyanga, reassured the community, stating that parents and residents should not lose hope. He emphasized that the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) forces have never given up on pursuing the rebel group responsible for the abductions.

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