By Robert Segawa
The Uganda Police Force has issued a strong condemnation of the increasing trend of mob justice, following a disturbing rise in public lynchings of suspected criminals. In his weekly address, police spokesperson Kituma Rusoke highlighted a troubling pattern where individuals accused of crimes, particularly theft, are being violently attacked and killed by angry mobs.
Rusoke noted a significant uptick in incidents where suspected thieves are apprehended by vigilant members of the public, only to face brutal justice at the hands of the crowd. He provided several recent examples to illustrate the severity of the issue.
One such incident occurred in Kasubi traffic rights, Rubaga division, where a youth was caught stealing a mobile phone from a student named Natukunda of YMCA. The suspect was subsequently intercepted and lynched by an angry mob at Nankukabye. Upon searching the deceased, authorities discovered three additional stolen mobile phones in his possession.
Another case was reported in Rwemiyenje, Rwampala, where a man was killed by a mob after being caught stealing watermelons, bananas, and tomatoes. Similar violence was seen in Kawete village, Namungarwe, Iganga, where Christopher Kirya was lynched for stealing cabbages from a stall.
Rusoke emphasized that while public vigilance is crucial, it is essential for citizens to hand over suspects to law enforcement authorities rather than taking the law into their own hands. “Suspects are still innocent until proven guilty by the courts of law,” he stated, urging the public to avoid resorting to mob justice and to work within the legal framework to address criminal activities.
The police spokesperson expressed concern over the loss of innocent lives due to the growing trend of mob violence and called for a collective effort to uphold the rule of law and ensure justice is served through appropriate legal channels.
