New Year festivities result into increase in mob justice

Police have registered an increase in mob justice cases during the end of year festivities, registering more than 4 cases that happened around the country.

This, according to Luke Oweyisigire, the deputy Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson, who was addressing journalists during the weekly police Media briefing in Naguru, was attributed to failure by the public to abide by whats taught to them, during community policing.

He highlighted that some of the members of the public, engage in mob justice, not knowing that in the end once arrested, they will be convicted and charged with murder.

While highlighting some of the areas where these mob justice activities happened from during the end of Year festivities, Oweyisigire was so disappointed that in some cases, village leaders are always part of this indiscipline.

“We had a mob justice at Mukalazi road in Bwaise, where an identified male was beaten to death. Its alleged that the deceased was trying to breank into a house. We also registered another mob justice in Makindye, where a person yet to be indetified was assaulted and also died,” he noted.

Other incidents were in areas of Bukasa – Masozi zone, Kirinya Parish Bweyogerere, were a victim Naboth Twine a 32 year old male adult, was beaten to death and his body is currently in Mulago.

Oweyisigire highlighted that in the past mob justice had gone down, however during 31st December 2022 and 1st January 2023, the cases that happened attributed to an increase in numbers.

He confirmed that fortunately on several occasions, those who participate in mob justice are always arrested and charged with murder.

Police have warned members of the public not to take matters into their hands, and always engage the authorities incase of any case of criminals who break the law.

In their Annual crime report of 2020, total of 540 cases of murder by mob action were reported compared to 746 cases reported in 2019, giving a decrease of 27.6%.