Mob Action: Police Probes Spike in Crime as MUK Finalist is Killed

Uganda Police has said that it has registered an increase in the number of cases related to mob action from across the country in the recent past.

This was revealed by spokesperson Fred Enanga on Friday during a security briefing at the Uganda Media Center in Kampala.

“Police continue to register cases of murder by the mob, where members of the public continue to take the law into their hands and kill suspected criminals,” he said.

Reports reveal that at least five cases were registered last week from different parts of the country and all victims were killed.

“For instance in Egami village, Omoro parish, Arua district. A 55-year-old Nadia Andrew was allegedly beaten to death by a mob. He had a misunderstanding that was arising from a land dispute. He was attacked from his home by a mob that stoned him to death,” Enanga revealed.

The law enforcement body condemned the incident and advised locals that there are mechanisms in place to handle cases of violence, land conflicts and so when a mob comes and takes the law in its hands, then they are defeating justice.

One suspect was arrested and processed for that murder.

Another incident happened in Bushenyi, where a one Edison Namara aged 28, a resident of Mwengura village was killed. He was beaten by unidentified people who then carried him to the police post at Mwengura where he died.

“This was basically because it is alleged he stole a sack of beans and four chicken belonging to Rev. Batungire Laban and the matter was reported to the police post. We’re investigating that matter,” reads part of the police report.

Also in Nyakayanga cell, Bushenyi district, there was a murder by a mob of a male adult for stealing coffee from a store in Kyabujimbi town council.

The suspect identified as Erias Tugumisirize aged 33, was hacked to death by a mob after they found him with 25-kilo grams of the suspected stolen coffee.

The body was taken to a hospital for postmortem and two suspects were arrested.

According to Enanga, this is an act that police strongly condemns.

“We always come out to promote the rule of law and we call upon all Ugandans to embrace the rule of law. Police teams through the CLOs are continuing to sensitize the public to desist from such acts and allow the law to take its course,” he said.

In Kyankwanzi, an angry mob pounced on a suspect who had hacked three children to death.

Relatedly, Kampala Police are also investigating a homicide incident by a mob action that happened last Sunday at Makerere University Kampala.

It is said that at around 11 pm last Sunday, police received information from someone that there was a mob action taking place near Lumumba Hall at Makerere University.

The caller said a gathering was beating up a suspected thief.

The police officers went to the scene and they found an unidentified person unconscious and lying on the ground with several injuries.

The police patrol vehicle arrived later and the victim was transported to Mulago Hospital for treatment.

Police immediately started investigating circumstances under which the victim was beaten.

Statements have been recorded from the police officers who responded to the distressed call and other witnesses.

Police established that the victim was Emmanuel Tegu, a third-year veterinary student at Makerere University in Kampala City.

“Unfortunately, the victim has passed on today at 3 am before he could record a statement to give us his last moments,” the Police statement reads in part.

“We are yet to find out the reason why he was moving at night at that time, but a murder offense is being vigorously investigated. There is also fake news milling around that he was beaten by LDUs. No single LDU personnel is deployed at Makerere University. The security of the university is being managed by Police and private security firms.

We condemn mob action and any person found to have participated in the crime will be arrested and prosecuted for taking the law in their own hands,” police said.

“We call on the members of the community to report all criminal cases to Uganda Police Force for active investigation and prosecution other than taking the law in their hands,” Police further implored.