Police speak out as mob justice takes toll in Apac District

15 September 2023, 3:51 pm

By Mike Okwang Ogule & Isaac Newton Abili

Police in Apac District have cautioned locals against taking law into their hands a vice police says has severally caused insecurity within the locals.

Senior superintendent of police Rogers Kapere the Apac District Police Commander made this pronouncement following an alarming escalation in cases of mob justice within the district.

Speaking to Radio Apac from his office on Monday this week, Mr. Kapere said police have for the past two month rescued many suspected thieves from the hands of mob who wanted to lynch them.

He called upon locals to desist from mob justice and allow the law punish criminals alleging that most parents have absconded their duty of talking to their children, something he said has made young people join criminality.

Mr Kapere called upon all stakeholders to take responsibility and collaborate in a struggle to end mob justice expounding that suspects are often released on police bond, as law does not permit prolonged detention without trial.

According to Kapere, May to September crime report put majority of victims of mob justice in Apac District were livestock and motorcycle suspected thieves.

Kenneth Ayeni, the Lc1 chairperson of Bar-kworo Village, Alaro Parish, Apoi Sub County in Apac District blamed police for endlessly releasing suspects unconditionally from their custody, a thing he says has always provoked community to taking law in their hands.

Mob justice, alternatively known as jungle justice, remains a socio-legal concern seen as social control and community securitization, as well as an exhibition of resentment with the state’s inability to effectively ensure public security, majorly via the criminal justice system.

According to a Uganda Human Rights Commissions 2018 report, mob justice is caused by a number of issues which include delayed police investigations, delayed prosecutions of cases, especially those involved in land wrangles, high level of unemployment among the youth which makes them idle, weak laws that allows granting bond/bail to suspects since they are entitled to according to the law among other causes.