Sam Twiineamazima, the Savannah Regional Police spokesperson, says that preliminary information indicates that the chairman of Kakala village received a distress call about a dead body found along the road.
Police in Luwero District are investigating the murder of a man by a mob, who was suspected of cattle theft. The incident occurred on Monday at approximately 6:00 AM in Kakala village, located in Zirobwe Town Council. The victim has been identified as Malukhu Edward.
Sam Twiineamazima, the Savannah Regional Police spokesperson, says that preliminary information indicates that the chairman of Kakala village received a distress call about a dead body found along the road. He immediately rushed to the scene, where he confirmed the presence of the body. The victim was discovered with a significant head wound, suggesting he had been struck with a blunt object.
Twiineamazima also notes that three cows were found at the scene. According to police reports, it is alleged that the deceased was beaten to death by an angry mob on suspicion of stealing cattle. Upon receiving a tip-off from the village chairman, Twiineamazima states that police responded promptly, and a case of suspected murder was registered.
The three cows were recovered and confirmed to have been stolen from Mukono District. The victim's body, he says, was transported to Luwero Hospital for a postmortem examination.
Luganda Audio
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English Audio
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Mob justice continues to be a persistent issue in the Savannah Region, which encompasses the Districts of Luwero, Nakaseke, and Nakasongola. In September 2024, a tragic case of mob justice in Lunyolya village, Luwero District, resulted in the death of 22-year-old Abbey Nyanzi. He and his brother, 24-year-old Yasin Kange, were accused of stealing chickens.
Following the identification of the stolen birds while the brothers were passing through Nabugolo town, a mob formed, detaining Kange and pursuing Nyanzi after he fled. The mob violently attacked Kange and set their motorcycle on fire, then caught Nyanzi, assaulting him before setting him ablaze. Police responded quickly, documenting the scene, and both brothers were taken to Luwero Hospital, where Kange was being treated and Nyanzi’s body was sent for a postmortem.
Similarly, in February 2024, in Luwero Town Council, police fired live bullets to disperse a group of motorcyclists as they attempted to lynch a suspected motorcycle thief. The incident occurred when boda boda riders pursued two suspects believed to be riding a stolen motorcycle tracked to Luwero. After apprehending one suspect, William Ogema, the crowd began to assault him, while the other suspect, Vincent, escaped.
Police intervened but faced resistance from the mob, leading to the use of gunfire to restore order. The police have on all occasions condemned mob justice, urging the public to report suspicions to authorities instead of taking the law into their own hands. According to a Police crime report for 2023, at least 35 people were killed in mob action within Luwero. The cases increased from 18 registered in 2022. The district was ranked with the highest cases of mob justice across the country.
Bernard Bakalu
Freelancer