By Rachael Wambuzi
Police in Busoga North have confirmed the killing of Fredrick Ngobi, the Director of Citizens of Hope Primary School in Buwenge Town Council in an attempt to steal ‘mercury’ in Buyende district. Ngobi was killed alongside his friend, Julius Kiirya, with whom they jointly hatched a plan to hire gunmen to besiege the home of Mutwaire Bamwegombye, 70, a resident of Busiike village in Buyende district, and rob ‘mercury’ from him.
On Sunday, the duo raided Mutwaire’s house and asked him to surrender all the mercury in his possession. Mutwaire tricked them and promptly called his friends for help. Within moments, a raging crowd gathered at his home. Sensing the danger, the gunmen fled in a saloon car, leaving Ngobi and Kiirya at the mercy of the angry mob.
Mutwaire, who is involved in grinding rocks and mixing them with tar extracted from pine trees to create ornaments, believes the attackers may have acted on rumors about him extracting mercury from the neighboring Kagulu rock for use in his activities. Earlier, district leaders and security teams conducted a search in his house, where they discovered ground rock powder heaped in old jerrycans.
Busoga North police spokesperson Michael Kasadha stated that the deceased bodies have been taken to Kamuli Hospital mortuary for postmortem examination. Kasadha warned the public to refrain from mob justice, saying it hampers efforts to combat criminal activities.
