A burglary and theft suspect has ended up dead in a mob attack in Kassanda district after escaping from police custody, prompting a murder investigation by police. The deceased has been identified as Derrick Kasumba, alias Kalevu, 30, who was being held at Manyogaseka Sub-county Police Station.
According to Wamala Regional Police spokesperson Lameck Kigozi, Kasumba escaped from lawful custody at about 9:00 am while he was being escorted to the toilet. Police Constable Aaron Nalyanya, who was guarding him at the time, reportedly failed to prevent the escape. Kigozi said police received information at about 10:00 am from the Officer in Charge of Manyogaseka Police Station, Ogwang Emmanuel, that Kasumba had been intercepted by a mob in Lwenyange Village and was being assaulted.
The Officer in Charge reportedly instructed PC Nalyanya to immediately proceed to the scene and re-arrest the suspect. Nalyanya reportedly used a boda boda to reach the scene, where he found the mob still assaulting Kasumba. The mob fled after seeing the police officer.
The officer then placed the injured suspect on the motorcycle and transported him back to the police station. “On reaching the station, his condition deteriorated. He could not stand by himself. He was immediately evacuated to Kyansaswa Health Centre III for medical attention. It is absurd that he was pronounced dead,” Kigozi said.
Police have registered a case of murder by mob and are pursuing those suspected to have participated in the assault. Kasumba’s body was conveyed to Mityana General Hospital for a postmortem examination. Kigozi said investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing, while efforts to identify and arrest those involved in the mob attack continue.
Police have cautioned members of the public against taking the law into their own hands, urging them to hand suspects over to authorities rather than subjecting them to mob justice. Kigozi also warned suspects in lawful custody against attempting to escape, noting that escape from lawful custody attracts additional legal consequences beyond the original charges-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
