Police in Mbarara have apprehended two suspects in connection with the brutal torture and attempted murder of a 16-year-old boy accused of stealing a mobile phone. The victim, Charles Amanya, endured hours of merciless beatings before being buried alive in a shallow grave.
The suspects, Evans Kamuhanda (17) and Apollo Kamukama (43), both residents of Kariba Cell, Bubare Sub-County, were arrested by authorities for their involvement in the heinous crime.According to Police spokesperson Fred Enanga, the suspects tied the victim to a tree and subjected him to intense torture, beating him from 10 am to 7:30 pm.
“The suspects tied the victim to a tree and tortured him by beating from around 10 in the morning up to around 7:30 p.m.,” Police spokesperson Fred Enanga narrated the horrible ordeal to media on Tuesday, June 4, 2024.
Despite Amanya’s pleas and claims of innocence, the suspects continued their assault until he lost consciousness. Believing him to be dead, they dug a shallow grave and buried him.
“They thought he had died, so they dug a shallow grave, picked the boy, dumped him, and covered the grave,” Enanga explained.
However, Amanya miraculously regained consciousness and managed to crawl out of the grave. Amanya survived for two days without food or water in an abandoned shack before being discovered on May 30 at 6 pm and taken to the police. He was subsequently transferred to Bubare Health Center for treatment.
Enanga noted that the victim was fortunate to have survived such an ordeal. The suspects now face charges of torture, conspiracy, and attempted murder.Enanga condemned the act, urging the public to always observe the rule of law and avoid such acts of impunity.
He emphasized that torture is a punishable crime that can lead to murder. The police are working to trace other suspects still at large to ensure they face justice.
“Torture is a punishable crime and can lead to murder. We continue to urge the public to always observe the rule of law and avoid such acts of impunity,” he said.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance and adherence to the law. The police’s swift action in apprehending the suspects and bringing them to justice is commendable. The public is urged to report any such incidents to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable for their actions.
Mob Justice
According to Uganda Police Force annual crime reports (2013-2019), the number of deaths caused by mob justice rose by 75% between 2013 and 2019, from 426 to 746.
Mob justice is is a form of extra judicial punishment or retribution in which a person suspected of a crime or wrongdoing is typically humiliated, beaten, sometimes undressed and in many cases these are usually done by a crowd.Mob action takes place in the absence of any form of fair trial in which the accused is given a chance to defend him/herself.
The mob simply takes the law into its own hands.Government has condemned mob justice as it takes away the rights of an accused, mainly the presumption of innocence and right to be heard (all provided for in the constitution).Moreso, there is no fair trial since the complainant(s) and the mob in most cases are the witness, prosecutor, judge and executioner of the punishment.
In most cases there are no prior independent and impartial investigations conducted and conclusions are always based on hearsay, motivated by jealousy, hatred and misconceived facts.Punishments are severe involving beatings, miming, destruction of property, sometimes undressing and killing of the offender and there is no limit since the punishment is determined according to the mood of the mob.
The law prohibits mob justice as it does not promote reconciliation of parties involved or rehabilitation of the accused and the process does not observe human and children rights.
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