By The Eye Media – Kanungu, 28 May 2025
A cloud of horror has descended over Kyomugote Cell, Kirima Sub-county in Kanungu District after a man was brutally lynched by a mob on allegations of sheep theft in the wee hours of Tuesday morning.
According to a statement released by the Kigezi Regional Police spokesperson ASP Elly Maate, the deceased, identified as Turyatunga Obed, met his gruesome end at the hands of angry residents after being found in possession of three suspected stolen sheep.
The events unfolded around 3:00 AM on 27th May 2025, after unknown persons reportedly raided the home of Twongirwe Eliya, a resident of Kajumo Cell, and made off with three sheep. An alarm was raised and villagers from surrounding areas launched a manhunt for the culprits.
It is during this impromptu search that Turyatunga was allegedly apprehended with the sheep and summarily beaten to death by a mob.
Police were notified later in the morning by Kamahanga LCIII Chairperson of Kirima Sub-county, and homicide officers rushed to the scene.
“The body was conveyed to Kanungu Health Centre IV for postmortem,” said ASP Maate, confirming that exhibits, including sticks suspected to have been used in the assault and the three recovered sheep, were collected and documented.
Despite the fatal turn of events, police say no arrests have been made so far, but investigations are actively underway to track down those involved in the lynching.
ASP Maate condemned the rising cases of mob justice, urging members of the public to desist from taking the law into their own hands, regardless of the allegations.
“This was a clear case of murder, and those responsible will face the law,” he warned.
Mob justice continues to be a growing concern in parts of rural Uganda, where community frustrations over crime often boil over into violence, sidestepping due process and leaving a trail of irreversible consequences.
