At a time when people in several African countries are being warned against mob justice while punishing suspected offenders, Uganda’s prison head has hailed a mob that overpowered the police to kill a suspected criminal in Masaka.
Johnson Byabashiaja, the Commissioner General of Prisons has even gone ahead to reward those behind the mob justice with a cash prize of Sh10 million ($2,700).
Ugandans have since expressed disappointment at the news, especially when other countries are instituting measures to end the increasing rate of instant justice.
But Dr Byabashiaja has fully defended his decision, saying he has no regrets as the mob had sought the best justice for the victims of crimes perpetrated by the suspected criminal.
The pple of Bukomansimbi he killed and confessed finally got the best Justice. This includes a retired police officer. True I did reward & have no regrets on this.
— Johnson Byabashaija (@jbyabs) April 12, 2018
The suspected criminal, Muhammad Kiddawalime was lynched on Tuesday during a foiled robbery at the home of Resty Nakyambadde, a midwife at Bukulula health Centre IV.
He and another suspect, Musa Galiwango had initially been arrested as part of a group that attacked four villages in Lwengo and Bukomansimbi districts killing five people on New Year’s Day.
But they escaped from Masaka court on March 1, the day they had appeared for the mention of the case before committal to the High Court, local media The Dispatch reports.
Here’s how Ugandans have been reacting to the gesture by the prison boss:
But what happens where we nurture this culture of “mob injustice”. We are supposed to be a country governed by laws.
— Tweheyo Pius Scholes (@tweheyp) April 12, 2018
True, some circumstances don’t allow such to prevail. A fugitive again imputatively attacking people??? Wooooooooooh
— Johnson Byabashaija (@jbyabs) April 12, 2018
The absurd thing is when people holding positions of influence come out publically to support mob justice. The gesture could have been in good faith but not good where we are battling with development of establishing the rule of law.
— Tweheyo Pius Scholes (@tweheyp) April 12, 2018
The Ush10m bounty was put to whoever would help security towards arrest the fugitive, in this case a mob killed the suspect in foiled robbery and those that executed the killing have earned the envelope with the money
— WWW.SOBUJA.ORG (@sobujournalists) April 12, 2018
