A policeman attached to Naguru police headquarters in Kampala was on Holy Saturday lynched by a mob in Budaka District on suspicion of being a thief.
Police constable Sedulaki Wakulu, a resident of Lyama village, Lyama Sub-county in Budaka District in eastern Uganda is said to have been killed at around 1am on April 10.
He was found lifeless in front of the store door at Nampagala village which belongs to Okoboi Ivan.
An eye witness told this reporter that the deceased attempted to run away when he saw Okoboi (the store owner) leading to an alarm that attracted a mob.
“Preliminary information indicate that last night (April 10) at Nampangala village, No 45549 PC Sedulaki Wakulu was found in front of the door of a store [for agricultural produce]. The store belongs to one Ivan Okoboi,” the police said.
It is reported that the deceased attempted to run away when he saw Okoboi approaching. However, Okoboi raised an alarm that attracted neighbors to pursue him before he was caught and beaten on allegations of being a thief,” North Bukedi Regional Police spokesperson, ASP Immaculate Alaso said.
By the time Wakulu identified himself as a police constable attached to Naguru police headquarters in Kampala, it was too late.
His colleagues from Budaka Central Police Station were informed before he was rushed to Budaka Health Centre IV for treatment. He was pronounced dead moments after admission.
“As police, we strongly condemn mob action as means of administering justice to suspects. People should always jointly work with the police which is mandated to keep law and order rather than resorting to mob action. This is totally unacceptable and those implicated in inciting others will be dealt with accordingly. We continue to investigate every lead that we receive as we work to secure justice for the victim and his immediate family,” ASP Alaso added.
She said police have intensified community policing initiatives in the community to purposely sensitize the public about the dangers of taking the law in their hands.”
The latest Police Annual Crime Report for 2022, indicates that 953 cases of murder by mob action were reported to police as compared to 759 cases reported in 2021.
PC Wakulu was buried yesterday in Lyama village, Lyama Sub-county in Budaka District.
