By Enatu Steven
Tragedy has struck again in Serere District, where police are investigating a horrific case of mob justice that resulted in the death of 24-year-old Julius Ejangu, a fisherman from Kidetok Town Council. The incident occurred on January 21, 2025, at around 5:00 a.m. in Madaka Village, after Ejangu was caught allegedly stealing smoked fish.
According to East Kyoga regional police commander Damali Nachuah, neighbors responded to the alarm, pursued Ejangu, and fatally assaulted him. Police have since recovered 11 pieces of smoked fish as evidence and taken the deceased’s body to Serere Health Center IV Mortuary for a postmortem examination.
Nachuah has strongly condemned the violent incident, urging the public to uphold the principle of presumption of innocence for suspects and to allow police to conduct proper interrogations. “I highly condemn acts of violence that lead to loss of life,” she emphasized. Mob justice, she noted, remains a serious issue that undermines the rule of law and often results in unnecessary loss of life.
Unfortunately, this incident is not an isolated one. According to a 2015 Afro-Barometer survey, 1 in 6 Ugandan adults admitted to participating in mob justice or being willing to do so. The survey also revealed that willingness to join mob justice was higher among poor citizens, men, and young adults.
In fact, East Kyoga has registered two incidents of murder by mob this week alone, with Serere and Ngora being the affected areas. As the police continue to investigate these incidents, it’s essential for the public to refrain from taking the law into their own hands and instead allow justice to take its course.