The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The number of people killed by mob justice dropped in 2020.
According to the report released on Monday, a total of 540 cases of murder by mob action were reported compared to 746 cases reported in 2019, giving a decrease of 27.6%.
The report notes that victims of mob justice were mainly suspected to have committed offences that include theft, robbery, murder, witchcraft and burglary.
The report also indicates that Mbarara district maintained a lead in mob justices after registering 16 cases in 2020 compared to 25 cases in 2019. Mbarara is followed by Kakumiro with 15 cases, Lira, Kiryandongo and Hoima each recorded 13 cases.
Regions that registered the least number of cases of murder by mob action last year were Sipi with 1 case, Bukedi North and North West Nile with 2 cases each, and Mt. Moroto with 3 cases.
Luwero district dropped to six position in 2020 according to the report after recording 12 cases of mob justice from the third position in 2019 where 19 cases were registered.
Isah Ssemogerere, the Savannah Regional Police Spokesperson said that the cases dropped in Luwero as a result of community policing. He adds that residents were sensitized against mob justice.
Ssemwogerere adds that he and community liaison officers have also held several shows on media outlets where they have condemned the practice.
“We have told the residents on radios and televisions that killing the suspects in mob justice affects investigations in the cases” Ssemwogerere noted.
But Salim Zimula, the Kakabala parish councillor says that he believes the drop is due to COVID-19 lockdown and the curfew where the movement of people was restricted.
Zimula says that people lost trust in the justice system over failure to prosecute culprits on time which has forced them to resort to mob justice.
Most cases of people killed in mob justice in Luwero are linked to the theft of motorcycles and cattle.
Robert Ssekyanzi, the chairperson of Luweero Town Council Boda Boda Riders Association says that the drop in mob justice is a result of several motorcyclists installing tracking devices on their motorcycles.
Ssekyanzi also says that in most cases, the motorcyclists resort to mob justice because even the robbers kill or injure them before taking away the motorcycles.
The Annual crime report also indicated that cases of motorcycle robberies in Luwero declined to 17 cases in 2020 compared to 25 cases registered in 2019.
Luwero has also dropped from the second position to the fifth of leading districts with motorcycle robberies.
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