A 28-year-old man identified as Simon Ayemun, also known by the alias “Ebuking,” was lynched by a mob in Alelesi Village, Chelekura Sub-county, Pallisa District, after being accused of stealing a community savings box.
The LC1 Chairperson of Alelesi, Mr. Gerefansio Opio, said Ayemun was suspected of breaking into a residence and making off with a metallic savings box used by a local savings group. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon, and the suspect was reportedly caught in the act.
Click here to join our WhatsApp Group and Receive Daily News
According to Bukedi North Regional Police Spokesperson Mr. Wilfred Kyempasa, Ayemun allegedly broke into the home of a woman identified as Stella Addo and stole a savings box containing Shs2.5 million belonging to local resident Alelesi Apollo and the community group.
Villagers chased him down and fatally beat him with stones and sticks. Police later arrived at the scene, collected evidence, and took statements from eyewitnesses. The body was transferred to Pallisa Hospital for a postmortem examination.
Initial investigations show that Ayemun was a known repeat offender in the community. However, no money was found on him—only the damaged metal box. Police say the suspects responsible for the mob action have not yet been identified, and efforts to track them are underway.
The incident has sparked renewed concern over the prevalence of mob justice in the Bukedi North sub-region. Human rights activists and local authorities have condemned the increasing trend, urging the public to let the legal system handle criminal cases.
Police statistics reveal a disturbing rise in such incidents, with seven mob-related killings reported in March and three in April in Bukedi. The 2024 Police Annual Crime Report recorded 1,016 mob justice cases resulting in the same number of fatalities across Uganda.
Also Read: Amama Mbabazi’s Daughter Wanted Over Unpaid Shs 450m Loan
