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JINJA

Police in Kiira region have arrested three fishermen over accusations that they murdered a colleague over the theft of four fish.

The trio have been identified as Moses Katasa, Wilber Magero and Irene Akurut.

Its alleged that the deceased, only identified as Rogers, was suspected to have stolen Irene Akurut also known as Mama Angel's four fish as they were drying.

The incident happened on Friday at Kisiima II islands in Walukuba/Masese southern division in Jinja city.

According to investigations, Akurut, while inspecting her fish drying under the sun, found out that four of her fish were missing. However, she suspected Rogers and informed Katasa and Magero.

“The duo on getting the information stormed the home of the deceased where they (allegedly) beat him [up] to death. After [allegedly] ending his life, the suspects got the body of Rogers using a rope and hanged it in his house aimed at creating an impression that he had committed suicide,” Kiira Police region spokesperson James Mubi said.

Mubi told New Vision Online on Saturday, May 4, 2024, that they later locked up the house from inside and existed through the window. However, some of the residents who saw them alerted the LC1 chairperson who called the Police.

Mubi said the Police visited the scene of crime which was critically examined while observations were recorded. They also established the deceased feet were on ground, both arms straight while eyes and tongue were intact, an indication that it was a case of murder and not suicide.

He noted that the trio was arrested and detained at Jinja Central Police Station facing charges of murder. The deceased body was conveyed to Jinja Regional Referral Hospital for a postmortem.

According to the Police 2023 annual crime report, Jinja was ranked sixth among causes of mob justice, which shows an increase in the cases committed with 15 reported in 2021, 38 in 2022 and 61 reported in 2023.

However, to the same report cases recorded mob justice as a result of theft, Jinja ranked third with eight cases in 2021, ten cases in 2021, 17 in 2022 and 23 in 2023.