Urgent aid for Ugandan Christians after school massacre

Urgent aid needed in the wake of a massacre at a Christian School in Kasese District in western Uganda

“I had to smear my face with blood from my colleagues. When they returned to check on us, they thought I was dead and that is how I survived.” Godwin is a pupil who survived a massacre at the Mpondwe Lhubiriha Secondary School in Uganda on 16 June.

Forty-two Christians – mostly pupils at the school – were murdered when the attackers invaded the school grounds, shooting and hacking victims to death. Petrol bombs were also thrown into dormitories, leaving more to be burned alive, their bodies unrecognisable afterwards. Six pupils were abducted by the attackers. Even though three of the abducted were rescued on Wednesday (21 June), very few pupils remain from the school roll of about 60.

The Christian boarding school was viciously attacked by Islamist extremists as the young people were singing Gospel songs and worshipping the Lord before they went to bed.

A senior Ugandan Church leader in the area has told Barnabas Aid that almost 5,000 people have been displaced by the attack, some fleeing to the border, leaving behind all their possessions. In desperate need, “[they] live in fear that the rebels can still come again for another attack.”

The faith of Ugandan Christians remains strong. “Thank you so much for checking on us. Amidst the trauma of losing both Christian students and adults, we are still strong in the Lord,” the Church leader assured us. Yet they need emotional healing after what they have seen and endured.