TRAGIC MOB JUSTICE INCIDENTS IN KASESE AND GOMBA DISTRICTS

On November 1, 2024, at approximately 3:00 AM, police received a report of a mob-related murder in Kabirizi cell, Kabirizi parish, within the Lake Katwe sub-county of Kasese District. Upon their arrival, authorities found two unidentified suspects who had been killed by an enraged mob.

Nearby, they discovered the remains of a slaughtered black cow belonging to Mr. Muhungulhu Amos, an 80-year-old cattle keeper residing in Kabirizi cell. Additionally, a machete and a knife were recovered from the scene.

Police at the scene observed that the suspect seems to have hastily cut the meat into pieces common with slaughtering of stolen animals. Local residents were unable to identify the two deceased males.

In a related incident, police in Bukandula, Gomba district received information on November 2, 2024, at around 6:00 AM regarding Sserungunda Vincent, a 54-year-old male resident of Kigo village in Ssali parish, Kabulasoke subcounty. Villagers found him moving with a black male goat and he could not account for its ownership. This led to villagers assaulting him with stones and sticks until he succumbed to his injuries. His body was taken for a postmortem examination at Gombe Hospital, and the goat was recovered as evidence.

We condemn mob justice because it undermines police efforts to trace accomplices in crimes. It also erodes the presumption of innocence for suspects and poses a significant risk of innocent individuals becoming victims.

We urge the community to refrain from taking the law into their own hands and to hand over suspects to police instead.

ACP KITUUMA RUSOKE

PRO-UPF