Man, 30, lynched by mob after attempting to snatch woman’s handbag

Butebo, (UG):– The Territorial Police in Butebo District are actively investigating a tragic case of mob justice that resulted in the death of a 30-year-old man, identified as Michael Ocul, alias “Dr. Designer.”

The incident occurred at Kanyum Trading Centre on March 12, 2025, around 9:00 AM, following allegations of theft.

According to a preliminary police report filed by H/C Major Mugombeysa at the Butebo Central Police Station, Ocul was at Kyanyum Market when he allegedly attempted to steal a woman’s bag.

Onlookers claim that the woman was preparing to purchase silver fish and had taken out a 10,000 shillings note when Ocul snatched her bag. Her desperate cries for help drew the attention of nearby market-goers, who quickly mobilized to chase him down.

After a brief pursuit, the mob caught Ocul, recovered the stolen bag, and subjected him to a brutal lynching.

In response to the incident, a team of police officers led by D/CID/0 D/ASP Musana Ritah arrived at the scene shortly after the attack. They conducted a thorough examination of the area and documented the evidence.

The deceased’s body was subsequently retrieved and transported to the Mbale City Mortuary, where it awaits a postmortem examination. Preliminary examinations revealed multiple head injuries accompanied by significant blood loss. Nearby, stones stained with blood and broken pieces of eucalyptus tree were found, indicating the mob may have used these items during the assault. The investigation noted that the scene was tampered with due to the market’s busy activity on that day.

The Bukedi North Regional Police Commander, ACP Mwanga Kitiyo Mose,s confirmed to DailyExpress that police are actively pursuing inquiries to identify all individuals involved in the mob action.