KAMPALA- At least four suspects have been arrested over the weekend in connection with the mob killing of an IT staff member from Kyambogo University, who was brutally murdered in Namugongo, near the Martyrs’ Shrine.
According to Police, Jacob Akansasira, was brutally killed by a mob last week in the Kigambo ghetto zone, Namugongo. The attackers suspected him of being involved in theft, although his actual involvement remains unclear.
The family, initially, believed that Jacob Akansasira was killed by robbers during an attack. However, Police Spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke has contradicted this account, ruling out robbery as the motive behind Akansasira’s death.
“According to our investigation, it appears that Jacob Akansasira may have wandered into the Namugongo area, where he was mistakenly identified as a robber by the local population, who then lynched him without verifying the facts,” Police Spokesperson Kituuma explained. “Our preliminary findings suggest that he might have been out drinking.”Kituuma said.
Rusoke has revealed that four individuals have been arrested so far in connection with Jacob Akansasira’s murder. The police are continuing their search for additional suspects who participated in the crime.
The police have since warned the public against taking the law into their own hands through mob action, which has resulted in the loss of innocent lives.
“A person may come into your hands and you may think they’re a criminal, but in reality, they might not be.”It’s easy to distinguish between someone who is mentally unstable and someone who is a criminal. You can do this by trying to communicate with them and observing their behavior.” Rusoke.
Police Spokesperson Rusoke condemned the practice of mob justice suspected criminals, emphasizing that it can lead to the loss of innocent lives.
“Instead of resorting to mob justice, give individuals the opportunity to explain themselves,” Rusoke urged. “Killing them is not only wrong, but it also denies the police the chance to investigate and apprehend other potential suspects.”
According to Dr. Sadrack Matsiko, the deceased’s family doctor, despite being rushed to Mulago Hospital for medical attention, Jacob Akansasira succumbed to his injuries due to severe bleeding in the brain.
//Cue in; “Jacob bleeding…
A 2015 Afrobarometer survey revealed alarming trends in Uganda, where one in six adults admitted to participating in mob justice in the preceding year or expressed willingness to do so if given the opportunity.
The survey’s findings attributed this propensity for mob justice to a profound lack of trust in Uganda’s formal criminal justice system, with many citizens doubting its ability to deliver fair and timely justice.
