(Kasese) – Police in Kasese and Gomba districts are investigating two separate incidents of mob justice that resulted in the deaths of two individuals. These violent acts have sparked concerns over rising vigilantism in the country. Authorities have condemned the attacks and are urging the public to refrain from taking the law into their own hands.
On November 1, 2024, at around 3:00 AM, police received a report of a mob related murder in Kabirizi cell, Kabirizi parish, in the Lake Katwe sub-county of Kasese District. Upon arrival at the scene, officers discovered the bodies of two unidentified men who had been killed by a group of enraged locals. The mob reportedly targeted the suspects after they were accused of stealing livestock. Near the bodies, authorities found a slaughtered black cow, believed to have been stolen from 80 year old cattle keeper Mr. Muhungulhu Amos, a resident of Kabirizi cell. Police also recovered a machete and a knife at the scene.
It appeared that the suspects had been in the process of cutting up the stolen cow, a common method used when slaughtering stolen animals. However, local residents were unable to identify the two deceased men, further complicating the investigation. The police are still working to determine the full details surrounding the incident.
Just a day later, on November 2, 2024, another tragic case of mob justice occurred in Bukandula, Gomba district. Police were notified around 6:00 AM about an incident involving a 54 year old man, identified as Sserungunda Vincent, who was found by villagers in possession of a black male goat. The man could not provide an explanation for the ownership of the goat, leading the community to suspect him of theft. In response, villagers took matters into their own hands, assaulting him with stones and sticks. Vincent succumbed to his injuries shortly after the attack. His body was taken to Gomba Hospital for a postmortem examination, and the stolen goat was recovered as evidence.
These two incidents have prompted the Uganda Police Force to speak out against mob justice, which undermines the legal process and threatens the safety of individuals. Police spokesperson ACP Kituuma Rusoke strongly condemned such acts of vigilantism, emphasizing that they hinder investigations and often result in innocent people being wrongfully harmed or killed.
“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,” ACP Rusoke stated in a public address. He called on communities to work with law enforcement rather than resorting to violence, urging them to hand over suspects to the authorities instead of taking matters into their own hands.
The police are have urged the public to report any criminal activities to the relevant authorities and allow law enforcement to carry out proper investigations. ACP Kituuma Rusoke said mob justice not only violates human rights but also destabilizes communities by fostering fear and distrust.
