Five people die in West Nile mob attack
May 30, 2010
FIVE people, including two workers of a Kampala-based construction company, were over the weekend killed in two separate mob attacks in Arua and Nebbi districts.
By Frank Mugabi
FIVE people, including two workers of a Kampala-based construction company, were over the weekend killed in two separate mob attacks in Arua and Nebbi districts.
Henry Alyang, the northwestern regional spokesperson, said three men were killed in one of the attacks at Rhino Camp trading centre in Arua on Saturday at about 4:00am.
He said Patrick Wedine from Busia and Kateregga, from Kasawo village in Mukono district, were lynched for allegedly killing a resident, Oketi Komakech.
“Trouble started when Patrick went to a disco and befriended Komakech’s girlfriend. He later took her to spend the night at his house, but Komakech trailed them, sparking off a fight in which he (Komakech) was strangled and killed.
“Wedine hid at Rhino Camp Police post, but a gang of over 300 people from the disco stormed the post and chopped Wedine to death using machetes. They then went to the market where they also lynched Kateregga, Alyang narrated.â€
He said the Police tried to disperse the crowd, in vain.
Four other workers of the construction firm were rescued and taken to Arua central Police station for safety.
In another incident, two men were yesterday beaten to death and their bodies set ablaze over burglary.
Ashraf Wemba, 23, and Geoffrey Iwutungu, 30, both residents of Amisi village, Paidha town council in Nebbi district, were accused of breaking into a house belonging to Innocent Mungurwoth on Thursday.
Alyang said Iwutungu was found with some of the stolen items and later confessed to being Wemba’s accomplice.
He was tricked into calling Wemba and they were beaten and killed. Wemba’s body was burnt beyond recognition. Alyang said the two were known criminals accused of various thefts.
He revealed that the Police was investigating both cases although no arrests had been made yet.
Alyang decried the rise in mob justice against suspected criminals, saying they register one case every week.
“Most of these are acts of revenge involving people found with stolen property and those suspected of witchcraft.â€
He warned that perpetuators of mob justice would not be left to go scot-free.
FIVE people, including two workers of a Kampala-based construction company, were over the weekend killed in two separate mob attacks in Arua and Nebbi districts.
Henry Alyang, the northwestern regional spokesperson, said three men were killed in one of the attacks at Rhino Camp trading centre in Arua on Saturday at about 4:00am.
He said Patrick Wedine from Busia and Kateregga, from Kasawo village in Mukono district, were lynched for allegedly killing a resident, Oketi Komakech.
“Trouble started when Patrick went to a disco and befriended Komakech’s girlfriend. He later took her to spend the night at his house, but Komakech trailed them, sparking off a fight in which he (Komakech) was strangled and killed.
“Wedine hid at Rhino Camp Police post, but a gang of over 300 people from the disco stormed the post and chopped Wedine to death using machetes. They then went to the market where they also lynched Kateregga, Alyang narrated.â€
He said the Police tried to disperse the crowd, in vain.
Four other workers of the construction firm were rescued and taken to Arua central Police station for safety.
In another incident, two men were yesterday beaten to death and their bodies set ablaze over burglary.
Ashraf Wemba, 23, and Geoffrey Iwutungu, 30, both residents of Amisi village, Paidha town council in Nebbi district, were accused of breaking into a house belonging to Innocent Mungurwoth on Thursday.
Alyang said Iwutungu was found with some of the stolen items and later confessed to being Wemba’s accomplice.
He was tricked into calling Wemba and they were beaten and killed. Wemba’s body was burnt beyond recognition. Alyang said the two were known criminals accused of various thefts.
He revealed that the Police was investigating both cases although no arrests had been made yet.
Alyang decried the rise in mob justice against suspected criminals, saying they register one case every week.
“Most of these are acts of revenge involving people found with stolen property and those suspected of witchcraft.â€
He warned that perpetuators of mob justice would not be left to go scot-free.