Two individuals were lynched by an angry mob on Monday evening in Nshanjaare town council, Rubanda district, after being accused of murdering a 65-year-old businessman.
The victims of the lynching were identified as Bright Ainembabazi, 27, a resident of Butabonana village, and Edward Rwamahe alias Militant, 32, a resident of Mashaho village in Mengo ward, Nshanjaare town council. They were accused of hacking to death Silva Agaba Nzaarwa, a resident of Butabonana village.
Lydia Tindibakira, Nzaarwa’s wife, recounted that Nzaarwa was last seen on Sunday afternoon around 4:00 PM when he left home to visit Mengo trading centre. When he did not return, Tindibakira became concerned and informed locals. On Monday, Nzaarwa’s body was discovered near Mengo trading centre, lying in a pool of blood with multiple cuts on the head and throat.
Souctine Turyasingura, a relative of Nzaarwa, mentioned that a blood-stained sweater belonging to Ainembabazi was found at the crime scene, inciting the locals’ anger. This evidence prompted the locals to launch a manhunt for the suspects, resulting in their capture and lynching.
Elly Maate, the police spokesperson for the Kigezi region, confirmed the incident and stated that investigations are ongoing. Maate criticized the locals for taking the law into their own hands instead of handing the suspects over to the authorities for proper legal procedures. The case has been registered at Rubanda police station under file number CRB 256/2024.
