Mob kills university student in Mbale

By Paul Watala

The Police in Mbale are holding two men suspected to have been part of a mob that lynched a student of the Islamic University in Uganda suspecting him of stealing a calf.

The eastern regional Police spokesperson, Diana Nandawula identified the suspects as Ali Mudebo, 23 and Julius Mabonga 52, all residents of Kifulilo village, in Bukonde sub-county, Mbale district. Mabengo is the owner of the calf.

Nandawula identified the student killed as Isa Wasubule 21, a second year education student in the Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU) Mbale campus.

He hailed from Bufumbo sub-county in Mbale district and the incident took place at around 1.00p.m on Sunday in Kasanvu village, Bukonde.

"The calf had been tied in the bush to graze but the owner found it missing and mounted a search and it was found in Kasanzu. Wasulube was found standing around the place," Nandawula said.

She said a mob pounced on Wasulube using stones and pangas and after killing him, they tied the body on a rope and pulled it along while others continued cutting it.

Nandawula said the Police were tipped but they reached the scene and found the student had already been killed and the body dumped in the bush with several deep cuts on the head, legs and the hands.

She said on mounting a search for the killers, the Police managed to arrest the two suspects to help in investigations and that the search for other suspects still at large is going on.

"We have got some video clips that we are going to use to search for the remaining suspects so that they can be brought to book for murder," Nandawula said.

She said the Police have been deployed heavily in Bukonde for fear of more tribal clashes that may break out as result of the student's killing.