Police in Kikuube District are hunting for two people over acts of mob justice.
The suspects are Phillip Kakombabitooke, a resident of Kyamugoba village in Kabwoya sub-county, and Charles Irumba of Kisembya village.
The two reportedly mobilized a mob that lynched Julius Kugonza 25, a resident of Kyamugoba LCI, Bubogo parish in Kyangwali sub-county accusing him of stealing maize. The incident happened on Thursday.
The mob reportedly beat Kugonza to death and dumped his body by the roadside.
Julius Hakiza, the Albertine region police spokesperson says, the two ring leaders were identified by residents. He added that they spearheaded the brutal killing of the deceased.
In March, James Muhanuzi, the LCI Chairperson of Muhwiju village in Kikuube district was arrested over alleged acts of mob justice. Muhanuzi was arrested following the death of a 31-year-old man Joel Tugume, a resident of Ruyanja Cell in Hoima West Division.
Tugume was then reportedly caught red-handed pick-pocketing mourners at a burial ceremony.
Police then said Muhanuzi was arrested after investigations revealed that he commanded and also participated in lynching the deceased.
According to the 2018 Uganda Human Rights Commissions report, mob justice is caused by several factors which include delayed police investigations, delayed prosecutions of cases, especially those involved in land wrangles, high levels of unemployment among the youth which makes them idle, and weak laws that allow granting bond/bail to suspects, among other causes.
