A 45-year-old female fishmonger finds herself imprisoned in Kyangwali prison, facing murder charges. The High Court, situated at Kyangwali grade 1 court premises in Kikuube district, heard that Joyce Mandhawun, accompanied by a female accomplice identified as Akutu, allegedly led a mob in lynching 25-year-old Florance Katusabe at Walukuba landing site, Walukuba parish, Butiaba sub-county in Buliisa district.
The incident, which unfolded on January 1, 2022, was prompted by accusations that Katusabe had stolen 600,000 Ugandan Shillings belonging to Mandhawun. The prosecution revealed that Mandhawun and her accomplices violently attacked Katusabe until she lost consciousness. Subsequently, they dragged the victim to her home, approximately 100 meters away.
A police night patrol vehicle rushed Katusabe to Walukuba Health Center II, where she succumbed to her injuries a few hours later. A subsequent search at Mandhawun’s residence yielded two blood-stained curtains, a blood-stained wooden club, and a blood-stained rope.
In her defense, Mandhawun claimed that upon discovering the theft of her 600,000 Shillings, she fainted and was unaware of the subsequent beating inflicted on the deceased.
Presiding judge Jessy Byaruhanga Rugyema remanded Mandhawun to Kyangwali prison until January 12, 2024, awaiting judgment on the murder charges.
