Police warns public against mob justice in the refugee’s settlement
The Ugandan police has cautioned the public against acts of mob justice especially within the refugee’s settlements warning of dire consequences of those caught in the act.
The Ugandan police has cautioned the public against acts of mob justice especially within the refugee’s settlements warning of dire consequences of those caught in the act.
This came after the killing of a 30-year old South Sudanese refugee woman by Uganda nationals in Omugo refugees’ settlement Terego District. The victim of the mob justice was suspected of poisoning a 50-year old Ugandan national on Monday 4th January.
The police warning was issued by Josephine Angucia, the Ugandan North Western police spokesperson.
Angucia said that such act of murder by mob do not give room for proper investigations into an issue and therefore can easily result into an innocent person being victim of a barbaric act out of mistaken identity or misunderstanding. She therefore urged the communities to desist from being irrational and engaging in barbaric and unlawful acts.
She advised members of the community to use proper means of solving problems saying matters should be reported to the police, investigated properly so that the real suspect can be arrested and prosecuted in the court of law.
“It is the court to award punishment to those who are doing wrong things or those who have committed crimes but not civilians taking matters into their own hands out of anger,” she expressed.
Angucia called on both the local communities and the refugees not to take law in to their hands but rather report suspected criminal activities to the LCs and the refugee leaders when there are misunderstandings in the community.
Police of Terego district together UPDF soldiers commanded by DCIO has arrested 13 suspects who were armed with bows, arrows and pangas in relation to the murder of the South Sudanese refugee woman suspected to have poisoned and killed a Ugandan woman.
By Gaaniko Samson Jerry
