The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kamuli, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Kamuli are police struggling with a high number of mob justice cases. The latest cases occurred in the past one week where three people were killed in three separate incidents.
The Busoga North Police Spokesperson, Michael Kasadha, identifies the deceased as 40-year-old Daaka Kibito, a resident of Butoigo village.
He was lynched in Balawoli trading center on suspicion of stealing a mobile phone.
John Kyangwa, a witch doctor from Namisambya village was lynched on Friday for allegedly masterminding ritual killings in the community. Unidentified woman was lynched in Kamuli municipality for allegedly attempting to steal a baby from a commuter taxi.
According to Kasadha, Kamuli district registers between 10-15 cases of mob justice each month, adding that 80% of the victims lose their lives. He says their efforts to punish suspects are frustrated by local leaders who offer them protection. “As an institution, we have done our best to investigate cases of mob justice but there are a few elements within the political circles that harbor suspects and even threaten witnesses from cooperating with police,” he said.
Adding that “we are employing community policing mainly among the youth and motorists to ensure that proper legal procedures are followed to attain justice.”
Thomas Kategele, the Kamuli LC 5 chairperson, says that some people have lost trust in security institutions.
“I condemn mob justice but I believe the vice is increasing because the public has lost trust in police. The slow pace at carrying out investigations and apprehending suspects has given room to mob justice as a remedy of relief to the offended persons,” he said.
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