During the 61st Independence Day celebrations in Kitgum District, a total of 22 people lost their lives across the country, as disclosed by the police.
Fred Enanga, the police spokesperson, addressed the media and reported that on that day, 31 criminal cases were documented.
These included three instances of murder, five cases of mob-induced murder, two cases of assault-related murder, two suspected suicide cases by hanging, one case of murder through poisoning, three cases of strangulation-induced murder, and three cases of murder by cutting.
Enanga noted that these reported cases led to the loss of 22 lives, and nine suspects have been arrested and are in police custody while investigations continue.
In one incident in Busika Central, Luweero District, unidentified thieves entered the residence of Mr. Moses Matovu, a taxi driver, who managed to fend them off.
He also managed to apprehend one of the thieves, but the thief stabbed him and fled. However, local residents captured the thief, beat him to death, and set his body on fire.
Detectives visited the crime scene, and the body was sent to Luweero hospital for a postmortem. The area’s LC1 chairperson has provided a statement to the police, and investigations are ongoing.
In another incident in Luweero, in Kikoma Zone, Wobulenzi, a man identified only as Masembe was beaten to death by a mob for allegedly attempting to steal waragi distillery tubes.
An unidentified person witnessed the theft and raised an alarm, prompting the public to chase and assault Masembe. He was rescued and rushed to Luweero hospital, where he later died.
The highest number of cases was recorded in Kampala Metropolitan North, followed by Rwenzori West and the Savana region.
