SFC officer survives lynching in Namayingo

Namayingo, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Nathan Wekesa, an officer from the Ntoroko based commando battalion of the elite Special Forces Command-SFC has survived lynching after resorting to force to resolve a marital dispute. Trouble for Wekesa started when he stormed Busiro village in Banda sub county, Namayingo district on Wednesday and directed his sister-in-law to return to his brother’s home after five months of separation.

The woman’s family accused Wekesa of storming their home in a disrespectful manner and hurling at them with insults and demeaning statements, which prompted them to rally their neighbors for help.

Rowdy residents beat up Wekesa mercilessly prompting police to intervene and save his life and rushed the soldier to Buyinjja health center IV for treatment. Wekesa’s sister-in-law, who declined to be named, told URN that she decided to leave her marital home because of domestic violence.

“Much as my husband caters for our welfare, he has continued to team up with his family members to beat me up and insult me under the watch of our biological children and passersby, causing me to lose my esteem throughout the whole village,” she said.

Wekesa couldn’t be reached to narrate his side of the story. Namayingo Deputy Resident Commissioner, Hamis Kiganila says that he has organized a harmonization meeting aimed at sensitizing residents on the dangers of mob justice. Kiganila challenged individuals within the different centers of power to respect the rule of law rather than employing force.

“People are civilized enough to understand dialogue mechanisms and I call upon our brothers in uniform to live beyond the military might and implore peaceful means of handling grievances, rather than application of force, which over time breeds room for violence,” he says.

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