Police recover gun from lynched robber in Kitgum

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An unidentified armed assailant has been lynched by residents in Oryang Juma cell in Kitgum Municipality after he attempted to rob revellers at a local bar.

The Police say the incident occurred over the weekend when the suspect, armed with an AK-47 rifle, stormed the bar and began robbing patrons of their mobile phones and other valuables.

“The assailant entered the premises armed with an AK-47 and placed several revellers under arrest, robbing them of smartphones and other items,” Police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma told the media on Monday, September 1, 2025.

However, the situation took a dramatic turn when the revellers resisted. They overpowered the attacker, disarmed him and beat him to death before notifying the police.

“When our officers arrived at the scene, we found that the suspect had been neutralised by the wananchi. His body was taken to the mortuary for postmortem examination,” Kituuma said.

A firearm was recovered at the scene, loaded with 21 rounds of ammunition. As of the time of the briefing, Police had not yet confirmed the identity of the deceased.

“We commend the community for their bravery in subduing a dangerous criminal and recovering the weapon,” Kituuma stated.

“However, we continue to caution against mob justice.”

He explained that while public involvement can be crucial in stopping crimes, mob justice often hampers police investigations and can prevent authorities from uncovering larger criminal operations.

“Mob justice is counterproductive. In this case, had the suspect been restrained and handed over alive, we could have obtained valuable intelligence—such as his identity, motive, and any criminal networks he may have been linked to,” Kituuma added.

Police say investigations are ongoing to determine the origin of the weapon and whether the suspect was part of a wider criminal gang.

Police have urged communities to remain vigilant, but to allow law enforcement to handle suspected criminals in accordance with the law.

“We encourage the public to continue collaborating with police and to report any suspicious activity. Together, we can combat crime more effectively while upholding the rule of law,” Kituuma said.

Robbery in Ntinda

The Kitgum incident comes barely a week after Police arrested a private security guard accused of fatally shooting a businessman during a robbery in Ntinda, under the Kira Road Police Division.

The victim, Anthony Mutinisa, 53—director of Mutinisa Motors and Driving School—was a resident of Bulindo, Kira Municipality, Wakiso District.

According to Luke Owoyesigyire, Deputy Spokesperson for Kampala Metropolitan Police, the incident occurred on August 24, 2025, and involved aggravated robbery and murder by shooting.

“Preliminary investigations indicate that Mutinisa was fatally shot by a security guard identified as Hilary Byaruhanga, 28, who was attached to Dawn World Security,” said Owoyesigyire.

“The shot fired by the suspect led directly to the victim’s death. After the shooting, the suspect fled the scene with the victim’s vehicle, a bag containing an unspecified amount of money, and several mobile phones.”

The stolen SUV, registration number UA 769 BQ, was later traced and recovered in Kanungu District, Western Uganda, according to media reports. This came after police had recovered the alleged murder weapon—an SAR rifle with four rounds of ammunition—which had been abandoned near the crime scene.

According to the 2024 Annual Crime Report, overall crime in Uganda dropped by 4.1%, from 228,074 cases in 2023 to 218,715 in 2024. However, robbery cases increased by 5%, rising from 7,772 in 2023 to 8,163 in 2024.

Police say most of these were armed robberies, particularly targeting businesses and travellers. Authorities also note a trend of increased sophistication among criminal gangs, with improved coordination and planning.

This trend, police say, highlights the need for enhanced intelligence gathering, community cooperation, and rapid response capabilities to combat violent crime more effectively.