Police in Buhweju are investigating the circumstances under which a suspected coffee thief was lynched by a mob.
Martial Tumusiime, the Greater Bushenyi police spokesperson, identified the deceased as Didas Tumuhimbise, 40 years old, a resident of Nyamitooma Village, Bwoga Parish, Rwengwe Sub County, Buhweju District.
“It is alleged that on the night of May 9, 2024, at about 01:30 hrs, at Kambugu trading centre, the deceased was arrested by a group of people for alleged theft of raw coffee berries from the garden of Musinguzi Didas. They then beat him and took him to Bwoga police to report the matter,” Tumusiime narrated.
According to the police PRO, the officer in charge of Bwoga told them to first take him back for treatment, but unfortunately, he was found lying dead along the side of the road at Bwoga trading centre, Rwengwe sub county in the Buhweju District the following morning.
The body was taken to Nsiika Health Center IV for postmortem, statements were recorded from witnesses, and one suspect was arrested as they hunt for more members of the mob.
Cases of coffee theft are rampant in the areas of Greater Bushenyi following an increase in the prices of fresh seeds. A cup of coffee seeds goes for 1,800 shillings, an increas
e from 800.
