Budaka, Uganda: A suspected case of chicken theft ended in tragedy after a 34-year-old man was lynched by a mob in Mijoyi B Village, Kaderuna Sub-county, in Budaka District on Monday morning.
Authorities say the incident followed an investigation into a burglary and theft of chickens in Mijoyi A Village. A canine unit deployed to the scene reportedly tracked the scent to the home of the deceased, identified as Tawu Lawrence, though he was not present at the time.
Alarmed by the police findings, residents launched a manhunt and later cornered Tawu in Mijoyi B Village, where they violently assaulted him to death. Witnesses described a chaotic scene fueled by anger and suspicion.
LC1 Chairman of Mijoyi B, Mutono Muhammad, condemned the killing, describing it as a painful loss. “This is a tragic loss for our community. We must find ways to resolve disputes without resorting to mob justice,” he said.
Bukedi North Police spokesperson, ASP Kyempasa Wilfred, confirmed the incident and said detectives are gathering witness statements and examining the crime scene.
“The body of the deceased has been conveyed to Budaka Health Center IV for postmortem. No arrests have yet been made, but investigations are ongoing,” Kyempasa said.
He urged residents to allow security agencies to carry out investigations rather than taking the law into their own hands. “We call on the public to report suspicious activity to police and exercise restraint. Mob justice undermines justice,” he emphasized.
The incident has reignited concerns over rising cases of mob violence in Bukedi sub-region, with calls for community dialogue on peaceful conflict resolution.
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