The Police in Ssezibwa Region are hunting for members of the community who beat to death a Muslim believer for allegedly stealing pigs. Ssezibwa Region Police spokesperson, Hellen Butoto identified the deceased as Awali Wokulira (23) whom the residents of Kisu Cell in Luwayo Ward, Kawolo Division in Lugazi Municipality suspected to have stolen 22 pigs which they were transporting to the market in Kampala.
Butoto said that Paul Mukasa (25) the driver of MV registration number UBH 374Y which was carrying the Pigs was as well beaten to near death only to be rescued by Police that rushed him to Kawolo Hospital for treatment.
“It is alleged that Mukasa’s vehicle, a Canter, was seen last night carrying suspected stolen pigs from Kisu Cell. The residents therefore swung into action and waylaid the suspected thieves and ended up beating them,” she narrated.
For the vehicle, Butoto said that it was also destroyed and it was towed to Lugazi Central Police Station where the pigs are also being kept. She said that by press time, no one had claimed the said stolen pigs which police are keeping as exhibits.
However, one of the victims, Stephen Mugisha, a member of Kiganda/Kasokoso abattoir trader’s company LTD refuted the allegations that they had stolen the pigs.
Mugisha said they had bought them from Busoga, as part of their daily business.
Butoto, the police’s mouthpiece has warned the residents to always avoid taking part in acts of mob justice but refer such matters to Police in order for it to carry out investigations and have the culprits reprimanded.
Butoto said they have started making serious investigations into the case of murder by mob and attempted murder. The body of the deceased was taken to Kawolo Hospital Mortuary for post-mortem.