UPDF Soldier Lynched to Death by Mob After Stabbing Resident

RUKIGA – Police in Rukiga district are searching for yet to be identified people who allegedly lynched a UPDF soldier to death.

Muhwezi Henry, an army officer at the rank of Lieutenant Corporal and attached to the Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) unit was beaten by an angry mob of residents after he allegedly stabbed and injured a one Byamukama.

It is alleged that on Thursday night, the soldier, a resident of Nyamirima cell Rwenyanja parish, Kamwezi sub county in Rukiga district, while at David Byaruhanga’s bar at Kabugarama trading centre got into a quarrel.

The deceased then reportedly got an army benet and stabbed Byamukama in the chest. In response, residents quickly mobilized themselves and rushed their stabbed colleague to Rubare in Ntungamo for treatment.

It is during the same process that the group organized themselves and lynched the UPDF officer who was rescued by police and rushed to Bukinda health centre where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

His body was taken to Kabale referral hospital mortuary for postmortem.

Three suspects were picked up from the scene and arrested for questioning. The three have been identified as Kyarikunda Annet wife to owner of the bar where the scuffle started from, Arinitwe Ben and Arija Dickson.

The Kigezi Regional Police Spokesperson, Elly Matte warned the public against mob action and taking the law in their hands.

“We have always told people that they should to involve the local leaders when they have grievances to sort out your selves. Although the officer had stabbed someone and injured him, they should have not taken the law in their hands,” Matte said.

He added; “They should have involved the Police so that it does the needful to take him to courts of law”.

He said that Police are investigating the case and that all those who will be found to have involved themselves in the mob action will be arrested and charged accordingly.