Gates of Lubiriha Secondary School in Mpondwe, that was attacked. | Photo: BBC/Getty Images

The death toll in the Friday night attack at a school in western Uganda by rebels linked to the Islamic State group has risen to around 40 people.

Armed men suspected to be members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) attacked a school in Kasese west of Uganda on Friday night and killed 37 people mostly children, according to security sources.

The armed men suspected to be elements of the ADF group are said to have tied up the school security guards before burning children inside dormitories.

Several others were abducted during the attack, while 8 others are in critical condition at Bwera Hospital, Uganda Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga said.

According to the BBC, the attackers are thought to have detonated bombs in the region.

Members of the wider community are possibly among the dead, while several students remain unaccounted for.

The Ugandan army is reportedly pursuing the suspected terrorists and has also deployed planes to help track the rebel group.

The attack is not the first of its kind by ADF rebels in Kasese District.

On June 1998, the group attacked a technical institute in the area – killing 80 students and leaving many others injured.