Soroti, Uganda: A concerned citizens in Teso region have asked the director of public prosecution Justice Jane Frances Abodo to intervene into the bahaviours of his junior staffs at the lower level that have fronted money making instead of carrying their due diligent work.The frustrated locals are now resorting into mob justice for cattle thieves instead of reporting to police due to the manner at which the office of the director public prosecution handles files.
Peter Emodot from Amuria district said the community of Amuria arrested a serious cattle thief by the names Sam Emeku a resident of Asuret sub county Soroti district driving a stolen animals in a Landcruiser car at night and handed over to police but unfortunately Police prepared the file but DPP has sat on the file.
“Am one of the witness we wanted to burn the vehicle but police came very first and took the vehicle to Amuria police station where its currently parked,” he said.
According to Emodot, they thought it was police delaying but when they went to police to showed them that the file was with DPP office in Amuria and what we have learnt is that a lot of money is exchanging hands on this file to have the suspect currently in Police not to go to prisons,” he said.
Grace Adeke another resident said the same suspect was nearly being killed in Toroma where he went and loaded cows in a taxi at night.
“Locals burnt taxis to ashes but that file also when people followed it up it was damaged from DPP office at the region which is very bad,” She said.
According to Adeke the Director of public prosecution boss should intervene before they the locals stand dealing also with state attorneys for being part of thieves in Teso.
“Why killing the file with all the evidences and overwhelming witness willing to testify against the accused person, we also went to school and we are well informed much as we didn’t go for law schools,” She said.
Justine Okwalinga, a resident of Toroma sub county who’s cow was among those rescued from the suspect Sam Emeku said they will killing him although the court releases him.
“This man has a racket, he hires vehicles from Mbale claiming for tour but instead he brings them for stealing cows,” he said.
A source at Police who spoke on condition of anonymity because he’s not authorized to speak to the media said DPP has damaged many files.
“Not only public which is concerned about that but even police its also frustrated,” he said.
