Mob kills suspected cattle thief in Masindi

Masindi, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | An angry mob has lynched a suspected cattle thief in Masindi district.

The deceased was a notorious suspected thief identified as Muhammad Mwesigye, a resident of Kisindi village in Mirya sub county. Together with others still at large, they raided the home of Nicholas Tumwine of the same village and stole his cow.

However, luck ran out for the suspects when one of the residents spotted them and raised an alarm, which attracted hundreds of residents.

The mob pursued the suspects who were fleeing, intercepted them and lynched one while the rest managed to escape.

Patrick Muhumuza, a resident explains that Mwesigye has been a notorious cattle thief terrorizing area residents for long.

Julius Hakiza, the Albertine region police spokesperson says the thugs raided the village on Monday night at around 11pm before the locals started pursuing them.

He says Mwesigye was severally hacked by the angry mob before dumping his lifeless body by the road side.

Hakiza says though police rushed to the crime scene, it was too late for them to save Mwesigye’s life since he had already died. The body was later picked and taken to Masindi general hospital for postmortem.

According to Hakiza, police has managed to arrest Nicholas Tumwine, the cow owner who is also suspected to have participated in the mob action. He is being detained at Masindi central police station.

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