LC1, 7 others sentenced to death over mob killing
Court heard that on August 19, 2024, Moses Okech and Robert Baguma had gone fishing on Lake Victoria when they were intercepted by residents over allegations of theft. Their hands were tied behind their backs, and they were taken to the home of Misaki in Bukewa Central village, Buhemba sub-county, Namayingo district. According to prosecution evidence, an angry mob later descended on the two men and beat them to death.
Justice David Batema convicted Odongo Misaki, who was LC1 chairperson of Bukewa Central village at the time, alongside Karoli Lwanga, Musoke Yakuti, Kabwiso Mariadi, Talisuna Muzaham, Wandera Karim, Wasire Pius and Latifu Nyanga on two counts of murder. (Credit: Petride Mudoola)
IGANGA - The High Court in Iganga has sentenced a former Namayingo LC1 chairperson and seven other men to death for the murder of two fishermen who were lynched by a mob after being accused of theft.
Justice David Batema convicted Odongo Misaki, who was LC1 chairperson of Bukewa Central village at the time, alongside Karoli Lwanga, Musoke Yakuti, Kabwiso Mariadi, Talisuna Muzaham, Wandera Karim, Wasire Pius and Latifu Nyanga on two counts of murder.
Court heard that on August 19, 2024, Moses Okech and Robert Baguma had gone fishing on Lake Victoria when they were intercepted by residents over allegations of theft. Their hands were tied behind their backs, and they were taken to the home of Misaki in Bukewa Central village, Buhemba sub-county, Namayingo district.
According to prosecution evidence, an angry mob later descended on the two men and beat them to death.
In his judgment, Justice Batema faulted Misaki for failing to hand the suspects to Police and instead surrendering them to the crowd.
“He permitted the mob to deal with the suspects in any manner they deemed fit. This court finds that he actively participated in the murder of the two deceased persons.”
Batema agreed with the assessors that all eight accused acted together in the killings.
“Since the accused were tied together on the same white nylon rope, assaulted to death in the same transaction, at the same scene of crime and at the same time, I agree with the opinion of the assessors that all the accused are guilty of murdering the deceased persons in both counts,” he said.
The judge stressed that mob justice remains a serious crime and leaders have a duty to uphold the law rather than preside over unlawful punishment.
Although all eight convicts were first offenders, the court noted that none expressed remorse and none raised lawful defences such as provocation, self-defence or mistaken identity.
“I therefore sentence all the accused persons to death,” Batema ruled.
Prosecution, led by Jonathan Tumushime, argued that witness testimony directly linked all eight men to the murders and justified the maximum sentence.
Defence lawyer James Hawumba asked the court to consider the convicts’ family responsibilities but failed to secure a lesser sentence.
A post-mortem report showed that both victims died from severe traumatic brain injuries caused by blunt force trauma sustained during the attack.
This is the first time a High Court judge has sentenced multiple individuals to death in a single case. Previously, Uganda’s prisons accommodated 96 inmates on death row, comprising 93 men and three women.
Following the recent eight death-row convictions, Uganda’s prisons now accommodate 104 inmates on death row, comprising 101 men and three women, according to the latest data released by the Uganda Prisons Service.