Mob Beats Traffic Officer into Coma for Confiscating Girlfriend's Phone

A traffic Police Officer is in a coma after being attacked by a mob group in Nakulabye, a suburb of Kampala.    

Police Constable Harshim Nwenyi, 28, attached to Tororo Central Police Station was attacked by a mob in Katende zone after being accused by a woman that he had stolen his phone. The woman was later identified as his girlfriend.  

Police preliminary findings indicate that Nwenyi left his unit in Tororo to visit his girlfriend in Kampala on Thursday. But they developed a misunderstanding over messages on her phone prompting him to walk away with the phone. However, the woman raised an alarm accusing him of theft, which attracted mob ganging upon him. 

Although the Police officers at the Nakulabye Police Post who picked him up from the scene had announced him dead, the mortuary attendants at the city mortuary found him alive and rushed him to Mulago casualty ward in critical condition, where he is currently fighting for his life.  

His father Harshim Nwenyi Sr, a retired Immigration officer, said he received calls from the Police that his son was killed by a mob, and they travelled to Kampala to pick his son's body, but they luckily found him alive. 

//Cue in; “abadde tafuna…  

Cue out... bujanjabi bwamanyi naye.”//   

Akim Kawaddwa an uncle to the victim said the officer was badly beaten, and his condition is still worrying.

//Cue in; “katonda atuyambye naye…  

Cue out... omwaana yakubidwa.”//      

Other family members led by Zaina Nanteza said it was a miracle for them to find Nwenyi alive. She said they left Mbale town when other family members were arranging for burial.  

//Cue in; “Police bakole…  

Cue out... okunonyeleza kukolebwe.”//       

//Cue in; “ffe byatusobedde dda…  

Cue out... oyo mwana muto nyo.”//          

Hajjati Zaituni Mutagubya, the area chairperson said had been informed by the Defense Secretary that a person suspected to be a thief had been killed by a mob in their area. Mutagubya however, cautioned the public against taking the law into their hands. 

//Cue in; “okutwalila amateka…  

Cue out... sikyilungi naye.”//     

In a statement, police spokesperson, ASP Luke Owoyesigire said an iron bar believed to be among the weapons used by the mob was picked by officers from Nakulabye police post who responded to the incident. “We have recovered the CCTV footages in the areas to help in identifying whoever participated in the act. Owoyesigire said”.