Bushenyi 'hit-and-run' victim may have been killed by mob, police say

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Police in Bushenyi district have launched a murder investigation after a postmortem examination contradicted initial reports that a 23-year-old man died in a hit-and-run accident, raising suspicions that he may have been a victim of mob justice.

The deceased, identified only as Erisha, a resident of Bumbaire in Bushenyi district, is alleged to have been abducted from his home by vigilantes accusing him of stealing coffee, before his body was later discovered along the Ishaka-Kasese Road.

According to the Greater Bushenyi Regional Police spokesperson, SP Apollo Tayebwa, the incident was first reported to Ishaka Police Station on May 26, 2026, as a fatal road traffic accident.

The body was subsequently taken to Kampala International University Teaching Hospital mortuary for a postmortem examination.

However, an autopsy conducted on May 27, 2026, revealed multiple bruises and severe injuries that were inconsistent with a road traffic crash, prompting investigators to suspect that the victim had been assaulted before his death.

Preliminary police findings indicate that Erisha was allegedly abducted from his home by unidentified individuals accusing him of stealing coffee. Later that day, a body believed to be his was reported as that of a hit-and-run victim along the Ishaka-Kasese Road.

On June 5, relatives visited the Kampala International University Teaching Hospital mortuary and positively identified the body as Erisha's.

Following the identification, police reclassified the case as a suspected murder and commenced investigations.

Investigators believe the alleged hit-and-run may have been staged to conceal a mob killing.

“The Uganda Police Force strongly condemns all forms of mob justice and urges members of the public to refrain from taking the law into their own hands,” Tayebwa said.

“Suspected offenders should always be reported to the relevant authorities for lawful handling and due process.”

He extended condolences to the deceased's family and said investigations were ongoing to identify and arrest those responsible.

Mob justice under scrutiny

The incident comes against the backdrop of the recent death of 27-year-old Rugby Cranes and Stanbic Black Pirates player Sydney Gongodyo, who succumbed to severe injuries following an alleged mob justice incident in Kampala.

The forward, who was widely respected within Uganda's rugby fraternity, died at Mulago National Referral Hospital on Friday, June 5, 2026.

According to police, the incident occurred at around 2:00 pm in Kampala when members of the public allegedly attacked Gongodyo, accusing him of snatching a woman's handbag.

Police officers responded and rushed him to hospital for emergency treatment, but he succumbed to his injuries later that evening at approximately 7:00 pm.

According to the 2025 Annual Crime Report, total homicide cases increased by 1.9%, largely driven by assault-related killings and vigilante justice, with 4,329 homicide cases registered nationwide.

Murder through assault remains the leading category, accounting for 1,339 cases, representing a 19% increase attributed to brawls, land disputes and interpersonal violence.

Mob killings were the second-largest contributor to homicide statistics, with 1,016 cases recorded.

Police say this form of vigilantism commonly targets suspected petty criminals accused of offences such as motorcycle theft, livestock theft and the theft of agricultural produce, including coffee.

Murder involving hacking or blunt objects accounted for 636 cases, most of which were linked to domestic disputes and family property conflicts in rural areas.

Police recorded 491 cases of murder by strangulation, often associated with targeted killings, violent robberies and domestic disputes.

Murder by shooting declined by 38% to 188 cases, a trend law enforcement agencies attribute to stricter firearm tracing measures and enhanced enforcement protocols.

Aggravated domestic violence resulted in 183 murder cases, many of them linked to intimate partner violence and family land disputes.

Regional hotspots

According to police, the regions recording the highest numbers of homicide and violent death investigations include Rwizi, which leads the country with more than 350 cases annually, followed by Albertine, North Kyoga and Rwenzori West.