Hopes of finding students who were abducted by suspected ADF rebels in the attack on a school in Kasese District three months ago continue to fade after the army said their rescue efforts are yet to bear fruit.
According to Maj Gen Dick Olum, the commander of Operation Shujaa in eastern DR Congo, the five students, whom they believe were kidnapped from Mpondwe-Lhubiriha Secondary School during the June 16 attack, could have been killed.
Maj Gen Olum said they only recovered the body of a young girl who had been killed and buried in DR Congo and they suspect that about five other students were also abducted, although they have failed to trace whether they have been killed or if they are still alive.
The operation commander was speaking at a press conference in Lhubiriha, Democratic Republic of Congo.
The recovered body was of Amina Rashid Biira, 17, and it was handed over to her parents after DNA testing.
In the attack, 37 students (17 boys and 20 girls), a school security guard, and five others from the neighbouring community were killed.
Some of the missing children include Surprise Yunasi, Juliet Biira Asiimwe and Rogers Muhindo and their parents want the government to continue searching for them.