Man killed over pineapples

LUWEERO
A 35-year-old man was on Saturday killed by an angry mob at Kirimantungo village in Kamira Sub-county, Luweero District, bringing the total number of people killed through mob justice to eight in a spell of just two months in the District.
Edward Ssekanyo, a casual labourer at one of the farms in Kamira Sub-county was killed by people who accused him of stealing pineapples from a garden at Kirimantungo village in Kamira Sub-county.
However, the area Local Council authorities told police that Ssekanyo had a grudge with one of the individuals who made an alarm, alerting other residents who mobilized into mob which killed him using a machete, sticks and stones.

“ We are surprised that somebody can incite others to help him resolve a difference through unlawful means including death. We have learnt from residents that a man only identified as Ssemakula had a personal grudge with Ssekanyo. He attacked and inflicted deep cuts on Ssekanyo before making an alarm which attracted several people who beat him to death using sticks and stones,” Mr Samuel Kigozi the local Council I Defence Secretary at Kirimantungo village told the Daily Monitor on Saturday.
Luweero District Police Commander Mr Paul Wataka said police was hunting for all the individuals suspected to have participated in Ssekanyo’s murder.

“We condemn acts of residents taking the law into their own hands,” Mr Wataka said.
On October 6, residents of Kiwanula village in Kamira Sub-county lynched two brothers after finding them with suspected stolen property. Geoffrey Ssembewo and Henry Kitaka were killed as residents mounted a search for their missing property. The two had been suspected of engaging in acts of robbery.
Mob action has been on the increase in Luweero District after the former District Chairman and now Minister without Portfolio Hajji Abdul Nadduli rallied residents to eliminate suspected criminals through mob justice.

Nadduli in August this year while at a meeting in Luweero Town Council told residents to revive mob action as one way of eliminating criminals in Luweero. He cited an earlier operation he commanded in 2009 where about five suspected robbers were lynched.

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The minister urged participants to use all means possible to protect their land.

Savana Region Police Spokesperson Mr Vincent Ssekate on Saturday said the police will not allow residents to engage in unlawful means of resolving community problems.
“We want to work with residents to ensure that all people suspected of engaging in criminal activities are arrested and taken to Courts of Law,” he said.