Suspected cattle thief lynched to death by angry residents

MASINDI, UGANDA: Police in Masindi district is investigating circumstances under which a suspected cattle thief was lynched to death by an angry mob of residents.

The deceased was a notorious cattle thief identified as Muhammad Mwesige a resident of Kisindi village in Miira Sub-county in Masindi district.

Mwesige together with others still at large raided a home of Nicholas Tumwine a resident of the same village and stole his cattle.

Later one of the residents spotted them and raised an alarm which attracted a mob of residents who intercepted them and lynched one while others escaped.

Patrick Muhumuza a resident says Mwesige has been a notorious cattle thief terrorising area residents for a long time.
“We have known him for quite a long time and he has been a cattle thief, everybody knows him on this village” Said Muhumuza.

Julius Allan Hakiza the Albertine Region Police Spokesperson says, the thugs raided the village on Monday night at 11pm before e locals started hunting them.
“Mwesige was severely beaten and hacked by angry residents before dumping his lifeless body by the roadside although our attempt to reach to the scene could not save his life because he was already dead”. Said Hakiza.

According to Hakiza, Mwesige’s body was later taken to Masindi Hospital for postmortem and confirmed the arrest of one person to help with investigations.
“We have arrested one of the residents identified as Nicholas Tumwine the cow owner also suspected to have participated in the mob action and he is now detained at Masindi Central Police station as we carry on further investigations,” said Hakiza.